A secret visit by Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Paul to the Dempo Clubhouse in Panjim, Goa, sparked off a major controversy and angered Dempo coach Armand Colaco.
It is reliably learnt that Paul visited the clubhouse along with Bagan assistant coach Satyajit Chatterjee while Dempo were playing Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in the first round match of the Federation Cup football tournament, at the Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, on Wednesday.
Dempo's ace striker Cristiano Junior had died following a collision with Paul in the final of the previous edition of the Federation Cup in Bangalore last year after scoring two goals. The AIFF handed Paul a mild suspension that raised many eyebrows, as, according to media reports, he had actually hit Junior on the back of the head and solar plexus during the collision..
An upset Dempo coach Colaco wondered how the Bagan duo got hold of a banner of Junior, spread it on the wall and got a photograph of it clicked and published in a Kolkata daily.
The paper carried a picture of Paul standing alongside Chatterjee in front of Junior's photograph with a boquet of flowers.
Talking to rediff.com, Colaco said, "How could they do such a thing. If they wanted to visit the club and pay their respects then why did they not approach us. We would have given them the permission. The fact that they chose an inopportune moment (when we were busy playing our match) smacks disregard and contempt for protocol."
The news of Paul and Chatterjee's visit to the Dempo clubhouse also angered coach Amal Datta, who is just out of hospital after experiencing pain in the chest.
Datta, who has rushed to Goa to join the team, admitted that the duo's functioning was certainly improper.
"First of all the timing is wrong. Secondly, they should have taken proper permission before going there.
I regret their actions but I'm sure their intentions were good. It shows their immaturity," he said.
Datta said he had great respect for the late Junior and would personally visit the Dempo clubhouse and pay his respects.
"After all, we are footballers and it is only natural we respect our brother footballers. However, I will only go there after I seek proper permission from the Dempo authorities. I genuinely liked that player for his dedication and talent. I hope the people of Goa and players of Dempo Sports Club, in particular, accept our regret and the innocent act of Subrata and Chatterjee," Datta added.