New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) India’s iconic club Mohun Bagan Saturday was suspended by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for two years from the I-League for abandoning a match mid-way against East Bengal Dec 9 after crowd trouble.
The I-League core committee met here and endorsed the report submitted by the one-man committee of A.K. Ganguly, a retired Supreme Court Judge. The committee was set-up by AIFF President Praful Patel.
Mohun Bagan and the AIFF had presented their case to the AIFF during a hearing that lasted over five hours Monday. Ganguly submitted his report Wednesday.
Ganguly said Mohun Bagan’s decision not to play the Kolkata match after interval can’t be supported on the grounds of Force Majeure, and that the club had breached Regulation 22 of the I-League Regulation 2012-13.
According Regulation 22, Mohun Bagan will withdraw from this season, all its matches in the 2012-13 have been cancelled and considered null and void, they are also disqualified from taking part in the next two editions of the I-League, will return any financial stipends paid by the I-League for the 2012-13 season.
The I-League core committee will again meet Jan 9 to decide if the quantum of punishment imposed on Mohun Bagan is enough or if aditional fine and suspension were needed.
Mohun Bagan abandoned the Kolkata derby of I-League against East Bengal after key player Syed Rahim Nabi was injured. He was hit on his face by a stone hurled from the crowd at the Salt Lake stadium.
