ISL final fracas: FC Goa fined Rs 11 crore; owners banned

- Dattaraj Salgaocar banned from associating with any activity pertaining to ISL matches (including entering stadium) for three ISL seasons.

- Srinivas Dempo banned from associating with any activity pertaining to ISL matches (including entering stadium) for two ISL seasons.

- FC Goa team shall be docked 15 points in the next ISL season.

In an unprecedented decision, Indian Super League side FC Goa were on Thursday slapped a whopping fine of Rs 11 crore while their co-owners Shrinivas Dempo and Dattaraj Salgaocar were banned for two and three seasons respectively for 'bringing disrepute' to the tournament.

The five-member Regulatory Commission of the Indian Super League met in Mumbai over the three days, in continuation of its earlier sittings since February 2016, to hear the submissions of the respective parties in the matter of Football Sports Development Limited vs FC Goa; FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC; FC Goa vs Elano Blumer and Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa.

In its final order, pronounced on Thursday, it found FC Goa in breach of ISL regulations/code of conduct, bringing disrepute to the ISL, following the unfortunate incident on December 20, 2015 soon after the Hero ISL final at Fatorda Stadium, Goa.

FC Goa were facing the allegations of violating ISL Regulations, namely for ‘boycotting match and league ceremony, public criticism and threatening match officials, alleging that the match was fixed and ‘non-adherence of League rules’.

FC Goa lost the ISL final 2-3 to Chennaiyin FC after conceding two goals in the last three minutes at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on December 20.

The Regulatory Commission, chaired by Hon’ble Justice D A Mehta (former judge, Gujarat high court), consists of five independent eminent members from the legal, law enforcement and sports fraternity including Hon’ble Justice D N Mehta (former judge, Gujarat high court), D. Sivanandhan (former Director General of Police, Maharashtra), Vidushpat Singhania (legal professional and sports law expert) and Kiran More (former India cricketer).

Its members were unanimous in arriving at the verdict and sanctioned the following:

- Dattaraj Salgaocar shall be banned from associating with any activity pertaining to ISL matches (including entering stadium) for three ISL seasons.

- Srinivas Dempo shall be banned from associating with any activity pertaining to ISL matches (including entering stadium) for two ISL seasons.

- FC Goa team shall be docked 15 points in the next ISL season.

- A sum of Rs 10 crore  shall be paid by FC Goa to FSDL towards penalty / fine as well as costs; and a sum of Rs 1 crore shall be paid by FC Goa to Chennaiyin FC towards costs.

The Regulatory Commission, having heard the parties at length, ruled out FC Goa’s claims on ‘Double Jeopardy’ and ISL Regulatory Commissions’ lack of ‘Jurisdiction’.

All the parties have the option to exercise their right to appeal under the ISL League rules to the ISL Appeals Panel, comprising Hon’ble former Chief Justice of Bombay high court, Kshitij R Vyas.

Following their 2-3 loss in the final to Chennaiyin FC on December 20, FC Goa boycotted the medals ceremony, alleging the game was fixed.

FC Goa had said that they were forced to boycott the prize distribution ceremony because the ISL authorities failed to take action against Chennaiyin FC marquee player Elano Blumer who was alleged to have assaulted and abused FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar.

Match Commissioner AK Mamukoya in his report has asked the AIFF to take necessary action against FC Goa to save Indian Football from being taken hostage by few FC Goa people.

He mentioned that the three Japanese referees were threatened with physical assault by FC Goa staff and players from the substitutes' bench.

He also rapped the Goan team for ganging up Chennaiyin FC captain Blumer and condemned the behaviour of Salgaocar and AIFF vice-president Shrinivas Dempo.

Meanwhile, video footages also emerged which purportedly showed that Elano did not resort to any aggressive conduct during that scuffle.

In the footages, FC Goa officials were seen pushing and shoving Elano with one of them apparently laying his hand on the face of the Brazilian World Cupper who tried to free himself from the scuffle.

FC Goa, who have already been punished by the All India Football Federation's disciplinary committee with a fine of Rs 50 lakh, have maintained that issuance of notices by both AIFF and ISL Regulatory Commission for the same alleged breaches violates their fundamental rights and amounts to double jeopardy.

Check out the drama that unfolded after the ISL final