Dempo file appeal to AIFF to revoke Rs 5 lakh fine

Dempo have appealed to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to revoke the Rs five lakh fine imposed on them for refusing to release their players Mahesh Gawli and Sameer Naik for the national camp early this month, national federation general secretary Alberto Colaco said on Tuesday.

Colaco said the AIFF has received the application and its Appeals Committee would take a decision in this regard next month.

"Yes, Dempo have sent an application to AIFF and we have received it yesterday. We will first look into it and then take the decision," Colaco said.

"The decision in this regard would be taken next month after the holidays," he added.

Dempo had refused to release Gawli and Naik for the national camp citing their injuries while the AIFF insisted that both the players could be looked after by the national team doctor at the camp.

AIFF in its emergency committee meeting on November 30 had suspended the duo from playing for Dempo till a decision by its disciplinary committee on their club.

The disciplinary committee handed a Rs 5 lakh fine on Dempo for disobeying the AIFF directive, while clearing Gawli and Naik.

Colaco said each of the India Under-23 players who won the SAFF Championships in Dhaka has been rewarded with Rs 1.5 lakh.

"Each of the players in squad has been given Rs 1.5 lakh by the federation in recognition of the success they brought for the country," Colaco said.

Asked whether there were any instances of age fudging in the final round of National Sub-junior Football Championship for the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy, Colaco said the issue has been blown out of proportion and only two players were found over-age.

"Over-age issue has been very much blown over and there are strict rules and regulations in place to check that. Tests were conducted and sent to doctors, and only two players out of 32 were found over-age," Colaco said.

"I feel that states are trying their best to check and correct age related issues. We have also talked to them and asked to check the issue. In the zonal matches here in this tournament, rigorous checking were done. There were MRI scans of the players and there age proof certificate were checked," he said.

Colaco informed that India will field its junior team in the women's football competition of the forthcoming South Asian Federation Games in Bangladesh starting on January 29.