Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), a joint venture between IMG-Reliance and Star India, has filed an appeal to the ISL Appeals Panel with reference to the Regulatory Commission’s verdict of imposing a penalty of 15 points for FC Goa in ISL 2016.
FSDL has asked for the penalty to be withdrawn so that the Goa franchise can compete with the other teams on an equal footing.
According to a statement issued on Monday, FSDL, the ISL organiser, has told the Appeals Panel that the action of individual owners should not affect the FC Goa fans, and all teams must compete on the field evenly. “We feel that it would be uncompetitive for the team to start its ISL season with a negative 15 points.”
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The statement added that the FC Goa fans, who have been supportive of football, ISL and also conducted themselves well in all matches, should not bear such a heavy burden for no fault of theirs.
FSDL believes that a relook at this aspect of the sanction will be in the larger interest of football.