SCC Cavelossim cries foul play; threaten to pull out

NT NETWORK

 

MARGAO

Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim are thinking of opting out of the Goa Sevens Premier league being organised by Ambelim Sports Club and recognised by Goa football Association (GFA) as they are aggrieved that “competition laws are being changed without the participants not being informed of the same and it is detrimental to the teams progress in the tournament.”

Section 2. Matches C, of the Goa Sevens Premier league states: “A player sent off for a red card can be substituted with 1 of the substitute that will be considered as a substitute from 1 of the 3 substitutions available. If all three substitutions are complete than a red carded player cannot be replace by a substitute.”

Santa Cruz club of Cavelossim were playing FC bardez on April 28 when their player Alvito Miranda was red carded after receiving a second yellow. The team was leading by a goal at the time. The team brought in a substitute for Alvito , as per the rule but the same was denied.

“We were told by the referee that the game was being refereed by FIFA rules and that there was no provision for a player red carded to be substituted. Since the referee did not budge, we continued the game and lost 1-2. However, we filed a protest the next day and were shocked to be told by the organizers that the GFA had changed the tournament rule on April 28 itself,” claims Digvijay Velingkar, prime sponsor of Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim.

Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim filed a protest on April 30 and were shocked to receive an email on May 3, from Goa Sevens Sports and Cultural Association stating:

“With Reference to your email, dated on 30th April, As per Goa Football Associations instructions,  the rule, i.e, 2 C, has been amended. The Referees decision during SCC Cavelossim vs FC Bardez on 29th April 2018 for the red card to Mr Alvito Miranda of SCC Cavelossim Stands with the amendment. Hence forth any player sanctioned with a red card would not be allowed to substituted.”

Digvijay Velingkar believes the GFA letter to the organizers is malafide. “ We have sent a reply to the organizers email in regards to the GFA letter,” said divijay. Our email states(copy sent to The Navhind Times) : “I want to know who has signed the GFA letter. The letter is not signed by the president nor the secretary or any GFA member. who is C gaude? how we can sign and since he is not part of GFA member this letter is not valid hence we cannot accept the rule copy which ull ill have sent.”

Each participating fee has to pay an entry fee of Rs 50,000 according to documents available with us.The prize money is Rs five lakh.

“It does not make sense to sponsor a team for such a tournament. Why should I be spending money? Why is the GFA letter not signed by someone with authority. This reflects the laid back attitude on the part of organisers and GFA,” said Digvijaykar.

“The organisers can bring the rule into force now. But our match against FC Bardez needs to be re-played again, if the spirit of fair play exists, concluded Digvijaykar.

Efforts to contact Ambelim Sports Clube proved to be  in vain.