The Hindu : Sport / Football : Fransa gets to play in NFL

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Friday, Feb 24, 2006

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Sport - Football

Fransa gets to play in NFL

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: Without receiving an apology or an undertaking that it had demanded, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has cleared the way for Fransa Pax club to rejoin the 10th National Football League (NFL).

However, whether the Goan team will actually take the field is to be seen as the AIFF has declared the Fransa President, Micky Pacheco a persona non grata.

"We have decided to bar Mr. Pacheco from attending any activities of the NFL and the AIFF on behalf of Fransa Club till further notice," said the AIFF General Secretary, Alberto Colaco.

Mr. Pacheco would not be allowed to correspond on behalf of his club nor shall he be allowed to attend managers' meetings of the NFL. He also would not be eligible to receive any award on behalf of the club in any AIFF-organised or registered tournaments anywhere in India.

Fransa had protested against a decision by the referee in the January 30 match against Mahindra United, which it lost 1-2. Subsequently, Fransa did not report for its next match against Air India.

The AIFF has decided that Fransa would resume its campaign from the match against Air India followed by matches against Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar Sports Club.

Expressing regret?

When asked whether Fransa had expressed its regret over its decision to unilaterally withdraw from the NFL, Mr. Colaco said "they sent us sort of an official type of letter", but refused to confirm whether it contained an apology as demanded by the AIFF President, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

The AIFF release did not say anything about the ultimatum given to Fransa to give an undertaking that it would follow the rules of the NFL, AIFF, FIFA and AFC.

"Whatever we have decided is in response to Fransa's letter and also the recommendations of the AIFF Emergency Committee and the NFL Disciplinary Committee," Mr. Colaco added.

The AIFF has sent its three-point decision to Fransa with the hope that the club will adhere to them. "This is our final position," said Mr. Colaco.

Following the AIFF's decision to allow Fransa to play against Air India, it is to be seen what happens to the one-match ban on Air India stopper-back Binoy Kuruvilla. Air India had fielded Kuruvilla against Mohammedan Sporting to which the Kolkata Club had objected.

Air India had responded by saying that it had not included Kuruvilla in the match against Fransa and that it was not its fault that Fransa failed to report for the match.

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