Praful promises strict action

Taking strong exception to the brawl, the ISL on MOnday said it does not accept "such behaviour" and referred the matter to its disciplinary committee.

AIFF president Praful Patel has promised action against persons involved in the fracas at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda following the ISL 2015 final.

He was also critical of misbehaviour against the match referee (Japan’s Yudai Yamamoto) and subsequent events resulting in police detaining Chennaiyin FC captain Elano Blumer.

Speaking during half-time at the Cooperage stadium where the India U-17 football team is playing an exhibition match, he said: “Whatever happened is unacceptable. Strictest possible action will be taken. I am awaiting the match commissioner’s report. There is a FIFA code of conduct which has to be followed. The issue is about foreign players and foreign umpires.”

He added: “The FIFA code of conduct applies to our players and umpires also when they tour abroad. If they face the same situation, the federation will have to take a decision.”

FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar filed a police case against Elano alleging assault and a member of the home team staff allegedly confronted the Japanese referee.

The AIFF president, meanwhile, supported FIFA’s eight-year ban on former chief Sepp Blatter from football-related activity for abuse of power.

“When he was in power, there is no denying that decisions were taken to help us. Now the question is about ethics, about corruption and wrongdoing. We cannot support these actions,” he said.