ISL 2021-22: FC Goa lodges formal complaint against refereeing standards

FC Goa has lodged a formal complaint with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Referees' Dept regarding the standard of refereeing and has sought clarification for certain decisions that were made during the club's games in the Hero Indian Super League against Kerala Blasters and NorthEast United that were played on January 2, 2022, and January 14, 2022, respectively.

The Club has sought clarity over several decisions over these two games, including the invalidation of a goal against NorthEast United in their last game which would have placed the team a goal ahead in the game with 10 minutes to play. The team has also sought clarity on the decision to not award the team a penalty v Kerala Blasters and instead yellow card Jorge Ortiz for simulation when clear contact was made and the player was impeded while attempting to get into a goal scoring position.

Speaking on the matter, FC Goa's Director of Football Ravi Puskur stated, "We're pained and disappointed with the standard of refereeing that the team has been subjected to. We've held the referees in the highest esteem and have always accounted for a margin of error on tight calls."

"However, since the turn of the year, there have been two clear cut decisions in two different games that indicate the standard of decision making demonstrated was below the required and desired standards of professional football. It has clearly had an adverse effect on our points tally in the season so far and we owe it to our players, staff and our fans to seek an explanation on the same. We await to hear back on the response from the referees' dept," he added.

FC Goa currently stand in eighth place in the table with thirteen points from eleven matches. They will face SC East Bengal, tomorrow in their hunt for a top-four finish.