ISL fines FC Goa Rs.11 crore, owners suspended

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

05/05/2016

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The Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa were fined Rs.11 crore on Thursday by the regulatory commission for the ruckus after the ISL final last year. The commission also banned the franchises’ owners Dattaraj Salgaocar and Srinivas Dempo for two and three years respectively.

The ruckus took place after the ISL final, which Chennaiyin FC won 3-2 after defeating FC Goa. Chennaiyin skipper Elano Blumer was accused of assaulting FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar, and was arrested after Dattaraj filed a case in the nearby police station. However, a video showing Elano’s innocence in the incident surfaced on Monday.

FC Goa had already faced a Rs.50 Lakh sanction from All India Football Federation’s disciplinary committee for their part in the ruckus after the final, and now a media release from the ISL has confirmed the newly handed out penalty. The official statement read:

“The ISL regulatory commission delivered the verdict after hearing the submissions of various parties in the matter of Football Sports Development Limited vs FC Goa, FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa vs Elano Blumer and Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa.

“The Goan side were found in breach of ISL regulations/code of conduct, bringing disrepute to the ISL, following the unfortunate incident on December 20, 2015, soon after the Hero ISL final at Fatorda Stadium, Goa. FC Goa were facing the allegations of violating ISL Regulations namely for ‘boycotting match and league ceremony’, ‘public criticism and threatening match officials,’ ‘alleging that the match was fixed,’ and ‘non-adherence of League rules’.

“The six-member regulatory commission of the Indian Super League, which is chaired by Justice D A Mehta (former judge, Gujarat High Court), were unanimous in their decision and sanctioned the club the following:

Mr. Dattaraj Salgaocar shall be banned from associating with any activity pertaining to ISL matches (including entering stadium) for three (3) ISL seasons.
Mr. Srinivas Dempo shall be banned from associating with any activity pertaining to ISL matches (including entering stadium) for two (2) ISL seasons.
FC Goa team shall be docked 15 (fifteen) points in the next ISL season.
A sum of Rs 10 crore (Rupees Ten Crores Only) shall be paid by FC Goa to FSDL towards penalty / fine as well as costs.
A sum of Rs 1 crore (Rupees One Crore Only) shall be paid by FC Goa to Chennaiyin FC towards costs.

“The regulatory commission also rejected FC Goa’s argument of ‘double jeopardy’ and ‘lack of jurisdiction of the regulatory commission.”