AIFF imposes fine of ₹ three lakh on Aizawl FC

The club has been punished for a crowd violence during its home match against Mohun Bagan on January 25.

Aizawl FC was “treated as guilty” for spectator violence.

Aizawl FC has been fined ₹three lakh for crowd violence during its I-League home match against Mohun Bagan on January 25.

The five-member disciplinary committee of the All India Football Federation, headed by eminent lawyer Usha Nath Banerjee, found Aizawl FC “guilty” and asked the Mizoram club to submit the fine before its match against Indian Arrows on February 23. The AIFF also threatened to conduct matches “closed doors” if Aizawl did not undertake in writing that it will take responsibility for the safety, security and peace at the stadium.

“The committee has come to the decision that Aizawl FC be treated as guilty for spectator violence for the match between Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan,” Banerjee told PTI . “Considering the dimension, volume and size of the team, the quantum of the fine could have been extremely heavy. But considering the above factors the committee minimised the fine to ₹three lakh to be paid before their next schedule match (at home) on February 23. The coach (Hmingthan Sanga) and assistant coach were warned that any recurrence in future of any indiscipline will be seriously dealt with severe penalty.”

Angry fans

The match ended 1-1 draw and the disappointed home fans vented their ire out on the away side by hurling bottles. Two days later, Mohun Bagan lodged an official complaint . “In view of the fact as could be verified and seen, the team manager of Aizawl [was] found guilty of raising his fist addressed to the referee,” he said.

“As because there was lack of evidence against the reported utterings of foul languages (sic) by the coach and assistant coach of Aizawl FC, the committee is not in a comfortable zone to impose any punishment or hold them guilty.”

Besides Banerjee, the meeting was attended by Aditya Reddy and Krishnendu Banerjee; Harsh Vora joined in via audio conferencing. The AIFF has also revoked the red card suspension on Chennai City FC’s Edwin Vanspaul in the club’s match against Mohun Bagan in Coimbatore on February 7.

“Edwin Vanspaul red card has been revoked. It was a mistake on the part of the referee (Akash Jackson Routh).”