ISL 2023-24: Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City players suspended for three matches

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) disciplinary committee has suspended two players, Milos Drincic of Kerala Blasters FC and Yoell Van Nieff of Mumbai City FC, for a duration of three consecutive games after they received on October 8.

The decision came in the wake of heated altercations between both sets of players during the final game in the Indian Super League (ISL) just before the international break. The match ended with Mumbai City FC securing a 2-1 victory, and it took place during an away game for Kerala Blasters on October 8 at the Mumbai football arena.

Both players have been given a ten-day window to seek grounds for their respective suspensions and to file appeals if they wish to contest the committee's decision. While Milos Drincic is set to miss Kerala Blasters' home games against NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC and the away game against East Bengal, Marko Leskovic has been recovering from an injury and is currently unavailable. The club will be forced to play with an all-Indian defence line. The injury of Aibanbha Dohling added to the defensive woes.

Yoell Van Nieff will miss the home games against Hyderabad FC, and Punjab FC and the away game against Bengaluru FC. The ISL is set to make its return after the international break on the 21st October, featuring a match between East Bengal and FC Goa at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.