Mumbai: The Indian Super League’s (ISL) Regulatory Commission fined FC Goa Rs 11 crore and banned its owners Dattaraj Salgaocar for three years and Srinivas Dempo for two years respectively on disciplinary grounds in the ISL 2015 final controversy, here on Thursday.
Read: Elano Blumer brawl: ‘We wanted to show that Goans are not cowards’
The Regulatory Commission, chaired by Justice DA Mehta (former judge, Gujarat High Court) consists of five independent eminent members from the legal, law enforcement and sports fraternity including, Justice BN Mehta (former judge, Gujarat High Court); Sivanandhan (former Director General of Police, Maharashtra); Vidushpat Singhania (legal professional and sports law expert) and Kiran More (former Indian cricketer).
The Regulatory Commission members were unanimous in arriving at the verdict and sanctioned 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 shall be paid by FC Goa to FSDL towards penalty / fine as well as costs; and
- A sum of Rs 1 crore shall be paid by FC Goa to Chennaiyin FC towards costs.
The Regulatory Commission, having heard the parties at length ruled out FC Goa’s claims on ‘Double Jeopardy’ and ISL Regulatory Commissions’ lack of ‘Jurisdiction’.
All the parties have the option to exercise their right to appeal under the ISL League rules to the ISL Appeals Panel comprising of Hon’ble former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Kshitij R Vyas.
FC Goa, who lost to Chennaiyin FC in the final, did not appear before the ISL regulatory commission on April 11 and 12 despite a notice being sent to them.
On December 20 last, after Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa 3-2 in the ISL final in Goa, a scuffle broke out.
Also Read: Elano Blumer brawl: Should on-field fight end up in a police station?
Chennaiyin FC's marquee player Elano was accused by FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar of physically assaulting him in an altercation that occurred at the home team's dugout after the final whistle.
#NewsAlert: ISL fines FC Goa 11 crores, bans owners Dattaraj Salgaocar (3 years), Srinivas Dempo (2 years) on disciplinary grounds
— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) May 5, 2016
Dattaraj filed an FIR in a local police station. Elano was arrested and subsequently released but only after spending a night in police custody.
Also Read: Chennaiyin FC captain Elano arrested for allegedly assaulting FC Goa co-owner, released on bail
The ISL regulatory commission then issued notices to the parties involved and also asked FC Goa why action should not be taken for boycotting the post-match prize distribution.
Meanwhile, video footages emerged on Monday which purportedly showed that Elano did not resort to any aggressive conduct during that scuffle.
In the footages, FC Goa officials were seen pushing and shoving Elano with one of them laying his hand on the face of the Barazillian World Cupper who tried to free himself from the scuffle.
FC Goa, who have already been punished by the All India Football Federation's disciplinary committee with a fine of Rs 50 lakh, have maintained that issuance of notices by both AIFF and ISL Regulatory Commission for the same alleged breaches violates their fundamental rights and amounts to double jeopardy.
