The AIFF’s decision to fine our FC Goa Rs 50 lakh for boycotting the post match ceremony of the ISL final appears to be a pre-meditated decision to push Goa on the back foot and take the steam out of its energy in the next edition of the ISL, which in current form, FC Goa is a top favourite.
For those who witnessed the finals at Fatorda on December 23, FC Goa behaved like a bunch of extremely hurt, sad and victimised footballers who could not take it, that to add insult to unfairness, their team owner was abused. There are allegations of the FC Goa equipment manager attacking the referee and his assistants. If this is proven after hearing both sides and conducting a fair inquiry, let action be taken against the guilty. Does the entire team get a red card if one player has committed a foul?
The AIFF, and the ISl disciplinary committee, which will be the next court, judging the behaviour of our FC Goa players and management, have two options. One is to play policeman and the judge and deliver a harsh sentence based on just five minutes after the final of the ISL when a hurt and angry FC Goa walked out because they felt that the refereeing was unfair. The other is to engage in a process of mediation and negotiation. All over the world, especially in the realm of jurisprudence, reconciliation is the preferred path of mitigating conflicts. After all this is a sport. And the ISL has been one of the biggest unifying factors India has ever seen.
By imposing such a heavy fine, what will AIFF achieve? Or ISL for that matter? Who benefits if FC Goa has to pay Rs 50 lakh and more? This money could be spent on players, on the development of the team, on training youngsters and on funding their academy. Mandarins in the AIFF do not realise what FC Goa means to Goa. It is bigger than a club, it is much bigger than its owners, it has a brand equity which is unique and delinked from those who own the club or their companies and associations. FC Goa is the most potent symbol of a united Goa across so many barriers that divide our people.
A harsh decision against FC Goa is a decision against all Goans who together feel that they have been singled out for this treatment because other big daddy teams and owners need to cut Goa to size. We know there will be another side to this argument. A side which will show us rules and the need for discipline and how one team cannot behave like a loose cannon. To this we ask, where is the evidence that FC Goa behaved like bullies? They were in fact victims of bullies. Does anyone really know what happened on the sidelines after the Japanese referee blew the long whistle? Three senior members of the FC Goa leadership team, on receiving an email inviting them on the pitch for the closing ceremony walked up to be held back by bouncers who said they couldn’t go in. FC Goa owners showed them the emails and yet they were not convinced. This was their ground and this was their team and they were asked to go to the pitch. Yet they were blocked.
Dattaraj Salgaocar, has stood his ground and maintained that he was insulted and abused by Chennai captain Elano Blumer and in the heat of the moment his players and coach decided to show solidarity, with their owner and walked off. If this is wrong in the AIFF books, then the correction of this wrong is not a steep fine and threats of more action, but a conversation, bringing both sides together where perhaps a strong warning may have been given, but Goa’s sentiments respected.
India will now see what FC Goa means to Goans. The Herald appeals to all those who were at the stadium and countless others in Goa, India and abroad who love our team, to keep just Rs 50 aside and donate to a fund for pay for this fine. If 50,000 of us do this, that’s half the fine amount cleared. It’s not that the owners and the team cannot fund it. But this should be our way of telling our team, you are not in this alone. Do respond on [email protected] with a subject line “It’s fine, we will pay” on what your thoughts are and should we go ahead with this. Let’s do it. Let’s all shout as we did for every game that our boys played last season. Forcaaaaaa Goa!
