AIFF fines FC Goa for boycotting ISL post-final ceremony

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) fined FC Goa Rs.50 lakh on Friday for not attending the post-match presentation ceremony of the Indian Super League (ISL) final last year.

The club will have to deposit the fine money within the next 10 days.

The AIFF disciplinary committee, which met in the capital on Friday, also suspended Rajesh Malgi -- a member of FC Goa's support staff -- for four matches and fined him Rs.1 lakh for using offensive gestures and abusive language against Japanese Yudai Yamamoto and other match officials after the final whistle.

"FC Goa has been fined Rs.50 lakh (which is to be paid within 10 days) for not attending the post-match presentation ceremony of the Hero ISL Final 2015," the AIFF said in a statement.

"Furthermore, Mr. Rajesh Malgi, Equipment Manager, FC Goa, has been suspended for four matches of Hero ISL and also fined Rs.1 lakh for using offensive gestures and abusive language against the Match Officials after the Final whistle of the Hero ISL Final 2015," it added.

Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa 3-2 at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda to win the second edition of ISL last year. The final saw some late drama as FC Goa conceded two goals in the last three minutes.

There were chaotic scenes after the match as players and officials from both teams engaged in a physical scuffle. The Goans had accused the match officials of being biased against them.

The AIFF charged FC Goa under Article 53 of the AIFF disciplinary code (team misconduct), Article 58 (offensive behaviour) and Article 60 (threats). FC Goa have since then denied all allegations of misconduct.

In one of their submissions to the AIFF disciplinary committee, FC Goa alleged that they were forced to boycott the prize distribution ceremony because the ISL authorities failed to take action against Chennaiyin's marquee player Elano Blumer, who is alleged to have assaulted FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar.