AIFF rejects Kerala Blasters' appeal against ₹4 crores fine for abandonment of ISL game

AIFF rejected Kerala Blasters' appeal against the ₹4 crore fine imposed on them for misconduct and abandonment of their ISL playoff match against Bengaluru FC. The committee also rejected KBFC's head coach Ivan Vukumanović's appeal against the fine of ₹5 lakhs and a 10-game ban imposed on him. In both cases, the AIFF Disciplinary and Appeal Committee upheld the earlier decisions of the Disciplinary Committee. They were asked to pay the respective fines within two weeks. Their ISL playoff match was controversial as Kerala Blasters walked off the field claiming that Sunil Chhetri's winning strike from an extra-time freekick was not legitimate.

Read Also: Roma Fans Attacked English Referee And His Family after their defeat in the Europa League Final

Kerala claimed that referee Crystal John did not blow the whistle before Chhetri took the kick and the players were not ready. By virtue of their extra-time lead, Bengaluru FC were declared 1-0 winners and advanced into the ISL semifinals.

AIFF Disciplinary and Appeal Committee's statement

"The appeal of the appellant team is denied and Kerala Blasters FC is instructed to pay the fine of ₹4 crores imposed by the Disciplinary Committee," the Appeal Committee stated in its decision.

On the appeal made by Ivan Vukumanović, the Appeal Committee said, "This Committee holds that the appeal of the Appellant Coach is denied and that Ivan Vukumanović is instructed to pay the fine of ₹5 lakhs and serve the suspension for 10 matches and the ban from being a part of the team dressing room and team bench, irrespective of the team he is contracted with.

"Any match for which such suspension and ban have already been served shall count towards compliance with this decision," it added.

In the initial decision on March 31, the Disciplinary Committee also stated that the club and the coach needed to make public apologies. Otherwise, the fines would be increased to ₹6 crore and ₹10 lakh, respectively. In its appeal, the club had argued for levity with regard to the fine and asked that it be reduced to the minimum amount for abandoning the match.