East Bengal to request IFA to reduce punishment of Mehtab and Didika
Kolkata giants East Bengal would be looking to approach the India Football Association in order to ask for a reduction in the punishment given to players Lalrindika Ralte and Mehtab Singh. After the duo had manhandled the referee, IFA had suspended them for one match apart from a Rs. 1 lakh fine.
It was during East Bengal’s match against Peerless SC, which they went on to lose 1-0, that the likes of Didika and Mehtab were seen in a tussle with the match referee. As soon as referee Dipu Roy had submitted his report to the IFA disciplinary committee, it was decided that the duo would be suspended and fined Rs 1 lakh, failing which in 72 hours would see them suspended for a year.
Consequently, the duo had to sit out East Bengal’s match against Kalighat on Thursday. The IFA has also suspended team manager Debraj Chowdhury and goalkeeping coach Abhra Mondal for a year from IFA events, while Jaime Santos was let off with a warning.
And addressing the press conference here on Thursday, reported Sportstar, club’s executive body member Debabrata Sarkar revealed that the club would be requesting the IFA to reduce the suspension and the fine for their players.
East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez has criticized whatever has happened. “Whatever happened (after the match against Peerless) should not have happened,” he has said.
Goalkeeper coach Mondal has also regretted himself indulging in the incident. “I retired as a player recently, so the rush of blood is still there. I should have realized that I am no more a player and guiding some players,” he said.
