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Bagan seek action against ‘errant’ Chirag Utd players

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Mohun Bagan on Wednesday demanded the Indian Football Association (IFA) to take strong disciplinary action against Chirag United players for manhandling referee Minangshu Bhattacharya during their Calcutta Football League (CFL) Premier Division title decider yesterday.

The IFA has called a CFL sub-committee meeting on Friday to take the decision on the errant players.

“We are awaiting manager’s report and called a meeting. We will discuss everything there,” IFA secretary Utpal Ganguli said.

In his letter to the state association, Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra wrote: “The manner in which the referee was manhandled openly was shameless and deplorable. We request you to take up this matter on a priority basis and give exemplary punishment to the offenders of yesterday’s match which will act as a deterrent and help preserve the spirit of the game.”

It all began after the referee yesterday awarded a controversial penalty in favour of Bagan, triggering violent protest in the Chirag United camp as the players pushed and shoved the referee. If Eduardo Chacon (Du) slapped the referee, Denson Devadas planted a cynical peck on Bhattacharya’s forehead after receiving a red-card as the ground resembled a battlefield with police force getting into action to restore sanity.

Chirag have demanded a replay of the match that was won by Bagan with Edeh Chidi scoring the winner from the spot. Chirag had needed a draw to clinch the local league which would have scripted a history of sorts in the CFL.

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Passport refused to footballer due tohis father’s link with militants

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep 16 (ANI): The regional passport authorities of Jammu and Kashmir have denied passport to a Kashmiri youth, sighting the reason of his father’s involvement with militants in the valley.

A Nineteen-year -old youth, Basharat Bashir, was all set to fly to Spain for the soccer training, but the news of denial of passport has crushed his dreams.

“They were (passport authorities) only telling me that your case has not been recommended by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and FRO from police. I know they have denied me to give the passport because my father was a militant,” said Ahmad.

Bashir was among the 11 players selected by International Sports Academy Trust (ISAT) for training in Spain, but was dropped at the last moment because of non availablitiy of passport.

When contacted, the passport office authorities refused to talk about it.

Former Indian football captain Abdul Majeed Kakroo said it was injustice to Bashir and demanded the intervention of state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the matter.

“His father was into wrong things but now he has improved. Now, why should his son suffer for that? Why should he be denied the passport, and hurdles put in his way? On behalf of all the football players I would request the chief minister to help him,” Kakroo said.

Bashir also said that he was a year-and-a-half old when his father was arrested and was later released.

“He had become militant even before my birth,” Bashir said. By Parvez Butt (ANI)

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Website of Football Players Association of India launched

August 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 28 (ANI): A website of Football Players Association of India (FPAI) was launched in New Delhi.

Launching the website, Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia hoped it would unite the football community across the country and popularise the sport among the masses.

“It’s here to help the game, also mainly it’s obviously for the welfare of the players but at the end of the day to come together, share our issues, let our issues be known and just grow the game altogether,” he added.

The website www.fpaofindia.com will provide football fans a glimpse into the daily life of Indian football stars, and keep them abreast of the ongoing events.

Bhutia, who has become the first Indian footballer to play 100 international matches, said that the FPAI would work in line with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the players’ body in England, for the benefit of the players even after their retirement.

“If you look into the PF in England it’s one of the biggest association. Players Football Association in England is really big and I think we want to do that kind of work for the benefit of the players during their careers and after their careers as well,” he added.

The website will carry all the latest news, interviews with leading players beginning with Bhutia, a photo gallery, an event calendar and host chats.

Formed in 2006, the FPAI has been registered with Fipro, the international body for football players which has signed an MoU with FIFA. (ANI)

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Early goal by Lebanese striker mellows India in Nehru Cup starter

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 20 (ANI): The fifth minute goal by Lebaneon made it tough for India to bounce back into Nehru Cup starter, Indian football coach Bob Houghton after losing 0-1 to Lebanon said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters here after losing 0-1 to Lebanon, Houghton said, “It was overall quite a good performance. The first goal early on was a massive set back. It took us a while for us to actually get over that. But I thought the last 20 minutes of the first half and in the second half we were quite dominant. But you know it was always going to be difficult to score goals on the outfield out there.”

Lebanon defender Ali Al Saad fired in a low, curling free kick from 22 yards following a foul by N.P. Pradeep in the fourth minute as Lebanon started at a furious pace to rattle defending champions India.

The hosts went close a few times on either half but Lebanon, clearly the better side, tightened their defence and used quick counter-attacks to keep the hosts from mounting sustained pressure.

The Lebanese coach Emile Rustom said that the uneven surface and coarse grass made it tough for them to play to their potential.

“It will be very hard to play on this ground. The grass should have been cut before this game. We suffered a lot because of the temperature and our opponents also,” said Rustom.

India hopes to come up with a far more clinical performance in their next three games.

Kyrgyzstan face Syria in the next game of the round robin competition on Thursday.

Syria, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and India feature in the August 19 to 31 tournament, being organised mainly to prepare the hosts for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. (ANI)

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Bob Houghton confinement of Indian team faring well in Nehru Cup

August 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 14(ANI): Bob Houghton, chief coach of Indian football team, on Friday exuded confidence at the team and denied that players were under any sort of pressure prior to the Nehru Cup 2009.

Houghton said this while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday.

India will be the defending the title that it won in the last edition of Nehru Cup held in 2007.

The Nehru Cup is scheduled to kick-off on August 19 at the Ambedkar Stadium in the national capital when hosts India will take on Lebanon.

Houghton said that India is well in contention to win the Nehru cup as India is on a roll of winning international competitions.

“I don’t think it is adding pressure to the boys. I think it’s nice feeling for them to come to a tournament where they are regarded by all the other countries that are taking part here to be the team to beat. And that’s because we won that thing two years ago and then we won the challenge last year,” said Houghton.

“It has changed people’s opinion about us. And all these countries coming here they will be concerned about the games against India thinking India is the team to beat and that’s a very comfortable position to be in,” he added.

He further said that the players are not taking any of the opponents lightly and it is important that India starts the Nehru Cup campaign with a victory.

Indian football team returned from their tour to Spain last week, where they played practice matches against Tercera Division sides.

Houghton also stressed on the need to allow players recuperate from injuries before allowing them to play in matches.

“Finally, players don’t return to playing national leagues until they are absolutely fit irrespective of the importance of the upcoming games. And this is something we will do with (Sunil) Chettri. I don’t think there is no way we will play (Sunil) Chettri if we thought there was any doubt about his fitness,” he said. (ANI)

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Six teams planned for Football Nehru Cup

June 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) As the Indian football team embarks on its month-long exposure trip to Dubai and Barcelona, chief coach Bob Houghton said Thursday that the biennial Nehru Cup is likely going to be a six-team affair.

“This time we plan to have six teams in the Nehru Cup so that we can have two groups and the players will get two days rest which will only help us. Last time we had five teams and our boys got just one day rest in between the matches,” said Houghton, who guided India to its maiden Nehru Cup win in 2007.

Asked about the possible teams in the tournament, Houghton said: “We are yet to get a final list and it will be decided only after the consultation with (sponsors) ONGC as they want to have teams from countries where they have tie-ups.”

The Indian team will leave for Dubai June 25 and will train there till July 7 before moving to Barcelona for a month-long camp that will conclude Aug 7.

“I hope that we will have a nice summer this time. The national team has the potential because we have won two international tournaments in the last two years and also qualified for the Asian Cup,” Houghton said at the All India Football Federation (AIFF) headquarters here Thursday.

The Briton also said that the national team will utilise FC Barcelona’s facilities at the famous Nou Camp and will play five matches with local teams.

“Hopefully, it will be a good preparation for the Nehru Cup. We will try to play four matches, maybe five, with local teams and not Barcelona. There is no point in playing teams like Barcelona, Athletico Madrid or Valencia and get defeated by huge margins,” he said.

Houghton also said that he was looking to boost the confidence of some of his boys who didn’t have a good I-League.

“One or two boys (Sunil Chettri and Subrata Paul) had a difficult season and I will try to get them back on their feet,” he said.

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