Date:08/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020812612000.htm

Sport - Football

AIFF asks Fransa to apologise

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) has given Goan outfit Fransa Pax Club time till 5 p.m. on Wednesday to tender an apology for unilaterally withdrawing from the National Football League and rejoin the tournament before the stipulated deadline.

The Emergency Committee of the AIFF and NFL met here on Tuesday and

After going through all aspects of the acrimonious match between Mahindra United and Fransa Pax on January 30, the Emergency Committee of the AIFF and NFL met here on Tuesday and rejected the Goan club's complaints against refereeing decisions, terming them baseless.

"We examined video clippings, match officials' reports and came to the conclusion that Fransa Pax was wrong to take such an action," said the AIFF president Priyaranjan Das Munsi.

No place for debate

"What Fransa Pax was disputing was a `point of fact' and never in the history of world football has a refereeing decision been questioned so far," said Das Munsi. "Had it been a `point of law' one could have debated over it," he argued.

Alleging that "poor refereeing" had cost the team dearly, Fransa Pax officials had threatened to withdraw the team from the ongoing championship if the side was denied a replay against Mahindra United. Subsequently, Fransa failed to turn up for its next match against Air-India.

The AIFF was of the view that Fransa's withdrawal from the NFL had been detrimental to the league structure and the federation's commitment to spectators, sponsors and TV right holders.

The committee has empowered the AIFF president to initiate action against Fransa if the club failed to respond in time.

Meanwhile, the AIFF Disciplinary Committee has been given time till Feb. 15 to decide on what action should be taken against the Goan outfit for failing to turn up for its match against Air-India.