Fransa told to fall in line

The All India Football Federation cracked he whip on Goan club Fransa Pax, asking it to reverse its decision to withdraw from the ongoing 10th National Football League by Wednesday or face disciplinary action.

AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi told a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday that Fransa has been asked to respond by Wednesday, expressing regret for their behaviour and pledging total adherence to the rules of the tournament.

Earlier, miffed by contentious refeering decision in their match against Mahindra, Fransa president Mickey Pacheco threatened to withdraw his team from the ongoing championship if his side was denied a replay of the match or both teams not given a point each.

Subsequently, Fransa did not turn up in their match against Air India.

''The Emergency Committees of the AIFF and NFL met here today and we examined the video clippings of the Fransa-Mahindra match and went through the reports of referee, match commissioner and the local organising committee during the three-hour-long meeting.

"Accordingly, we rejected Fransa's protest note,'' Dasmunshi said.

''If Fransa fails to respond to the decision of the Emergency Committee by tomorrow evening, as AIFF president I have been authorised to take further steps in accordance with the existing rules,'' he said.

He described Fransa's decision to pull out of the NFL as ''detrimental to league structure and our commitment to the spectators, sponsors and television''.

Asked what action could be taken against the Goan outfit if they don't respond, Dasmunshi said, ''I will announce that only after they fail to meet the deadline tomorrow. We have given them an opportunity to mend ways and it's up to them to avail it or throw it away.

"The decisions have been conveyed to the Goa Football Association secretary and the same would be sent to the club."

An AIFF source, however, had earlier indicated that Fransa would rejoin the NFL and there is no question of replacing it with another team to maintain the 10-team league structure.

''Of course they can be slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh besides disciplinary action in case they ignore this decision. But things have been settled and they are most likely to rejoin the NFL,'' the source added.