MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Is the Goa Football Association flouting its rules to favour their own? There were many instances earlier where the association was accused of favouring their own executive members, however, on Tuesday, it looked evident after clubs and officials alleged that the Youth Club of Manora’s relegation was frozen by the State association.
It is confirmed by one of the executive committee members from Salcete that GFA has frozen the relegation of the Youth Club of Manora. “Most of the members were in favour of relegation. We don’t know why the GFA President has written to the AIFF seeking an opinion on relegation. All the members opposed the decision but they (GFA) still want YC Manora to be in the league,” stated the member.
The member further added that the decision was recommended by the president.
On the condition of anonymity, one of the Goa Pro League club officials revealed that “GFA informed them that the relegation has been frozen and they are waiting for AIFF reply. I am surprised to hear this. Since the start of the season and during every managers’ meeting the association always confirmed about the relegation,” stated a club official.
Another club official whose team played in the relegation league questioned the organisation of GFA’s Relegation League.
“Is this a joke? The GFA held their relegation league for what purpose? If they wanted to keep the team, then they should have avoided the extra cost of hosting the second leg for the bottom placed teams. The President and the Competition Committee Chairman is making a mockery of the Professional League. If it was any other team they would have had the relegation. Since this team was one of the Executive Member’s they have frozen the relegation. The late VP North Lavinio Rebelo was always in favour of relegation and promotion. They have conveniently forgotten his stance and contribution to Churchill's Presidential win in 2018,” stated another club official.
However, it was no surprise to learn about GPL having no relegation as sources close to GFA had confirmed the news to Herald even before the meeting could be held.
“This was bound to happen and we expected this. But most of the members opposed this move, but the President had written to AIFF regarding the issue, so as of now, the relegation is frozen and we will have to wait till AIFF gets back to us. The GFA is trying to protect a team which had most of its matches red flagged and a team that had the biggest cloud of suspicion on it,” stated the member.
Another club official stated that it serves no purpose to spend a huge sum and compete in a competition where there is no relegation, no quality football and even more when the league is marred with match-fixing allegations.
However, when tried to contact Churchill Alemao, he was not available.
Match-fixing investigation to be handed over the Crime Branch
One sitting in 20 months, that’s how many times the Goa Football Association Ethics Committee met to investigate Goa's biggest football scandal. This is how serious the State association ethics committee was in solving the alleged match-fixing scandal!
It is understood that the Executive Committee was furious to learn about the shoddy investigation from the ethics committee and decided to dissolve the committee for its inefficiency.
“Its shocking and clearly shows lack of interest from the Ethics committee in investigating such a huge scam. If they were not interested in completing the investigation they should have made it clear right from the start. The GFA could have easily looked at other options,” stated the senior executive member from South Goa.
"The Competiton Committee Chairman, Adv. Dominic Pereira, who is coordinating with the Ethics Committee on behalf of the GFA should have followed up with the members. The Chairman of the Ethics Committee Judge Afonso Araujo, has not even accepted to be a part of the Committee. Basically the committee is functioning without a Chairman. How can such shoddy work be tolerated? The GFA ought to dissolve this Committee and ensure these people never occupy positions in GFA in the future," he further added.
“It has been resolved that Dionizio Dias has been entrusted to act on behalf of GFA and file a complaint with crime branch. He will be assisted by Jonathan De Sousa and Anthony Barbosa” stated the member.
It is understood that it was also decided that CDJ Ribandar team would be suspended till further notice for impersonation of players during their match against Don Bosco Oratory Fatorda during the Curtorim Villagers Cup, organised by Curtorim Gymkhana. The players involved and the match day referee were also suspended.
