The disciplinary committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday imposed penalties on six clubs for non-participation in the 2019 Hero Super Cup.
The six clubs are Aizawl FC, Churchill Brothers, Gokulam Kerala FC, Minerva Punjab FC, NEROCA and Quess East Bengal.
The committee, comprising Ushanath Banerjee (chairman), Haresh Vora, Adithya Reddy, Prateek Chadda and Madhab M. Ghosh, took the decision after meeting individual club officials.
Loss details
The committee took into account details of the losses incurred on production, marketing and match organisation and decided to refer the assessment and adjudication of the compensation to the executive committee — the highest body of the AIFF.
The committee concluded that the clubs had indulged in activities tantamount to “holding the National Federation to ransom and ridiculing it and its officials openly through the media or otherwise and that too on presumptive assumptions.
“The actions of the clubs have resulted in tarnishing the image of the sport as well as the parent body.”
The committee also recommended disqualification of the clubs from the next edition of the competition.
The committee imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh on five clubs — Minerva Punjab, Aizawl, Gokulam, NEROCA and Churchill Brothers — while it was lenient on East Bengal, which will have to pay ₹5 lakh.
The committee noted that East Bengal had revolted against its sponsor (Quess) and wanted to participate as East Bengal President's XI, said Banerjee.
“But as the tournament regulations did not allow any other entity apart from the one registered to play, East Bengal's suggestion could not be considered,” he said.
“Moreover, as a sponsor does not come under the definition of a club, it could not be penalised separately and the committee thought it right to reduce the fine," said Banerjee.
Going by the provisions in the participation agreement, the committee has referred Mohun Bagan’s case to arbitration.
Re-assessment
However, the executive committee has the authority to re-assess the quantum of punishment and may well enhance the amount to over ₹30 lakh.