AIFF fines Pires, Fikru and Habas

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Saturday came down hard on FC Goa marquee player Robert Pires, Atletico de Kolkata striker Fikru Lemessa and head coach Antonio Lopez Habas by slapping them with severe fines and match suspension for offensive behaviour during the ill-tempered Indian Super League (ISL) encounter in Margao, Thursday.

Pires and Fikru were fined Rs.5,00,000 and suspended for the next two ISL matches. Kolkata coach Habas was also slapped with a fine of Rs.5,00,000 but suspended for four matches while goalkeeping coach Predipkumar Bhaktawer was fined Rs.30,000 and slapped with a one-match ban for breach of League Rule 22.2. They have four days to appeal against the AIFF disciplinary committee decision.

Fikru was punished for head butting Goa FC defender Gregory Arnolin during the ISL encounter, in Margao, Thursday. Arnolin was spared of any action due to inconclusive video evidence. The head butting incident surprisingly went unnoticed by American referee Christopher Prenso and there are chances that the MLS referee and his two assistants could be withdrawn from their next assignment in the ISL.

Pires and Habas were also involved in a tussle in the tunnel during half-time. FC Goa coach Zico had alleged that Pires was punched on his face by Habas during half-time.

The AIFF disciplinary committee found that Pires, Fikru and Habas had breached the Disciplinary Code (Article 58) of Offensive Behaviour and Fair Play. It was also the second time that Habas was found in breach of the disciplinary code. The AIFF disciplinary committee had earlier warned Habas, Oct 18.