AIFF orders inquiry after match commissioner cast doubts on Chennai City FC vs Minerva Punjab game
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Tuesday launched an inquiry into the final-day I-League championship decider between Chennai City and Minerva, swinging into action after an expression of suspicion by the match commissioner.
Leaders Chennai City’s shocking loss to Churchill Brothers had handed East Bengal a shot at the title going into their last round matches. On the final day of the 2018-19 league, a draw or a defeat for the Chennai City against Minerva Punjab and a victory for East Bengal would have crowned the Kolkata heavyweights champions.
While East Bengal did manage to win, Minerva Punjab lost 3-1 after taking the lead, immediately prompting the red & gold outfit’s skipper Lalrindika Ralte to question the Minerva Punjab’s decision to substitute their foreign recruits at what was a crucial juncture of the game.
“The AIFF is looking into the matter and the federation’s integrity officer has already got down to work. Though, in the match commissioner’s report to the federation, nothing suspicious was mentioned,” an AIFF official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
However, in another note, match commissioner Balasubramanaiam raised doubts about the game being “not played in true spirit”.
“After thorough discussion and observation, self and RA appointed for the above subjected game in our opinion like to bring to your kind notice that the penultimate match played between CCFC and MPFC in Coimbatore on 9.3.2019 was not played in true spirit,” the match commissioner mentioned in his note which is in possession of PTI.
He added, “Incidents evidently provide us proof at 56 minute the player taking the penalty, J No 19 (Pedro Manzi) of CCFC had shown him with his gesture, which side he is going to kick. The goal keeper dived the other way. J No 17 (Roland Bilala) of MPFC was being substituted at 53 min at that time the team was leading by a goal scored by him at 3 minute and it surprised the player himself since he was displaying good attacking football.
“Jersey No 10 (Juan Quero) of MPFC was substituted at 76 minute on which he was also annoyed and shown annoyance when he came to his technical area, since he was displaying good attacking game. Ranjit Bajaj, Team Manager throughout the game was very quite which is very opposite to his nature throughout the Championship.”
Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj though rubbished the claims, saying they played the game in the right spirit and with an intention to win.
This penalty theory is hilarious.. This pointing to a side before taking the penalty is a psychological trick. Hundreds of players have done it before.
No no. I'm not calling the penalty fixed. What I said is being reported in bengali media. However, I didn't I understand why manzi twitted a justification that too by mentioning wrong facts.
I have said this before - bengal media (especially those writing about football) should be given some awards for manufacturing stories, which they are able to sell also!
We often read that theatre or drama is on the decline in India
We are fortunate that that we live in a time where Indian football is trying to redress the issue--providing us with its fair share of drama on a regular basis!
All parties should accept that Chennai City have been deserving champs and move ahead...there are far more serious issues that need to be addressed on a priority basis rather than the cheap theatrics that we are witnessing all around us
Chennai City FC’s goalkeeping coach Sathish Kumar is the first from Tamil Nadu to have won honours both as a player and a coach in the top tier of Indian football.
Goalkeeper V.P. Sathish Kumar is among a handful of players from Tamil Nadu to have won an I-League (formerly National Football League) title.
However, the 35-year-old is the only one from the State to take honours both as a player and a coach in the top tier of Indian football .
“It gives me great satisfaction to have won I-League titles both as a player and coach from the State. I am really happy to have played a part,” Chennai City FC’s goalkeeping coach Sathish, who had won three NFL titles with East Bengal (2002-03) and Dempo SC (2004-05 & 06-07) and one I-League crown (Dempo in ’07-08), told Sportstar on Wednesday.
A collective effort
Sathish has been part of CCFC since the team made its debut in the I-League in 2016. The title win, he said, was due to the tactical nous of coach Akbar Nawas and the management of owner Rohit Ramesh. “Without the support of the entire staff including players, coach, support staff and the management, this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Sathish.
After he quit playing competitive football in 2015, CCFC approached him and he grabbed the opportunity.
“In the first two years, we finished eighth. This time, we wanted to finish in the top three. We went match by match. Nawas followed the style of Manchester City. It effectively means that goalkeepers have to be good with feet. That’s the first criterion,” said Sathish.
Sathish said his role was to drill home to the goalkeeper the importance of communication and tell him to adapt to the formation the team was playing.
“My role was to enable the keeper to jell with other players and rectify mistakes he has committed,” he said.
Praise for Taufiq
Sathish rated CCFC custodian Kabir Taufiq high. “He is a youngster who can don India colours soon. He is aggressive and his reflexes are good. He needs match experience. Actually, in the first five matches he played, we didn’t lose,” said the former India player.
Though he has had offers from Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa, he has refused them as he is very content in CCFC.
“I am satisfied with Chennai City. We have the AFC Cup next year. I am happy here. The management has treated me well,” he said.
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AIFF orders inquiry after match commissioner cast doubts on Chennai City FC vs Minerva Punjab game
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Tuesday launched an inquiry into the final-day I-League championship decider between Chennai City and Minerva, swinging into action after an expression of suspicion by the match commissioner.
Leaders Chennai City’s shocking loss to Churchill Brothers had handed East Bengal a shot at the title going into their last round matches. On the final day of the 2018-19 league, a draw or a defeat for the Chennai City against Minerva Punjab and a victory for East Bengal would have crowned the Kolkata heavyweights champions.
While East Bengal did manage to win, Minerva Punjab lost 3-1 after taking the lead, immediately prompting the red & gold outfit’s skipper Lalrindika Ralte to question the Minerva Punjab’s decision to substitute their foreign recruits at what was a crucial juncture of the game.
“The AIFF is looking into the matter and the federation’s integrity officer has already got down to work. Though, in the match commissioner’s report to the federation, nothing suspicious was mentioned,” an AIFF official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
However, in another note, match commissioner Balasubramanaiam raised doubts about the game being “not played in true spirit”.
“After thorough discussion and observation, self and RA appointed for the above subjected game in our opinion like to bring to your kind notice that the penultimate match played between CCFC and MPFC in Coimbatore on 9.3.2019 was not played in true spirit,” the match commissioner mentioned in his note which is in possession of PTI.
He added, “Incidents evidently provide us proof at 56 minute the player taking the penalty, J No 19 (Pedro Manzi) of CCFC had shown him with his gesture, which side he is going to kick. The goal keeper dived the other way. J No 17 (Roland Bilala) of MPFC was being substituted at 53 min at that time the team was leading by a goal scored by him at 3 minute and it surprised the player himself since he was displaying good attacking football.
“Jersey No 10 (Juan Quero) of MPFC was substituted at 76 minute on which he was also annoyed and shown annoyance when he came to his technical area, since he was displaying good attacking game. Ranjit Bajaj, Team Manager throughout the game was very quite which is very opposite to his nature throughout the Championship.”
Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj though rubbished the claims, saying they played the game in the right spirit and with an intention to win.
We are fortunate that that we live in a time where Indian football is trying to redress the issue--providing us with its fair share of drama on a regular basis!
All parties should accept that Chennai City have been deserving champs and move ahead...there are far more serious issues that need to be addressed on a priority basis rather than the cheap theatrics that we are witnessing all around us
I-League comes full circle for Sathish Kumar
Chennai City FC’s goalkeeping coach Sathish Kumar is the first from Tamil Nadu to have won honours both as a player and a coach in the top tier of Indian football.
Goalkeeper V.P. Sathish Kumar is among a handful of players from Tamil Nadu to have won an I-League (formerly National Football League) title.
However, the 35-year-old is the only one from the State to take honours both as a player and a coach in the top tier of Indian football .
“It gives me great satisfaction to have won I-League titles both as a player and coach from the State. I am really happy to have played a part,” Chennai City FC’s goalkeeping coach Sathish, who had won three NFL titles with East Bengal (2002-03) and Dempo SC (2004-05 & 06-07) and one I-League crown (Dempo in ’07-08), told Sportstar on Wednesday.
A collective effort
Sathish has been part of CCFC since the team made its debut in the I-League in 2016. The title win, he said, was due to the tactical nous of coach Akbar Nawas and the management of owner Rohit Ramesh. “Without the support of the entire staff including players, coach, support staff and the management, this wouldn’t have been possible,” said Sathish.
After he quit playing competitive football in 2015, CCFC approached him and he grabbed the opportunity.
“In the first two years, we finished eighth. This time, we wanted to finish in the top three. We went match by match. Nawas followed the style of Manchester City. It effectively means that goalkeepers have to be good with feet. That’s the first criterion,” said Sathish.
Sathish said his role was to drill home to the goalkeeper the importance of communication and tell him to adapt to the formation the team was playing.
“My role was to enable the keeper to jell with other players and rectify mistakes he has committed,” he said.
Praise for Taufiq
Sathish rated CCFC custodian Kabir Taufiq high. “He is a youngster who can don India colours soon. He is aggressive and his reflexes are good. He needs match experience. Actually, in the first five matches he played, we didn’t lose,” said the former India player.
Though he has had offers from Chennaiyin FC and FC Goa, he has refused them as he is very content in CCFC.
“I am satisfied with Chennai City. We have the AFC Cup next year. I am happy here. The management has treated me well,” he said.
https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/i-league-chennai-city-satish-kumar-goalkeeping-coach-record-interview-quotes/article26525620.ece