AIFF rejects complaint by Kerala Blasters

The All India Football Federation's disciplinary committee has reportedly rejected Kerala Blasters plea for a replay of their contentious match against Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League Knockout game.

The ISL outfit had walked off the pitch during their Knockout game against Bengaluru after Sunil Chhetri had scored a controversial goal, which was allowed by referee Crystal John. On this issue, Kerala Blasters had filed a complaint to the AIFF and asked for a replay of the match and a ban on John.

In its Protest, Kerala Blasters FC, who disputed a goal scored by Bengaluru FC off a free-kick, and which was declared legitimate by the referee, the club management said, “The Referee allowed a player from the BFC to take a free-kick without blowing a whistle.”

After considering the Protest and going through the Laws of the Game as well as the reports by the officials, the Committee said that it is of the view that the “Protest is not maintainable in law, as the conjoint comprehensive and holistic reading of the League Rules and the Code clearly provides that no protest can be entertained against a Referee’s decisions, since the said decisions are final and binding.”

It further stated, “The facts of the present case depict that the incident does not even fall within the exception carved out in Article 70.5 of the Code. Thus, the present Protest letter/report/petition is dismissed.”