We have been following old rules for 2nd, 3rd divisions: Schubert
PANJIM, DEC 29
The Goa Football Association (GFA) is groping for the rules and regulations governing the Second Division football league which is already in progress. That apart, it is over a month that there has been no tourough investigation in a protest lodged in U-14 football tournament.
With the GFA adopting a new constitution from August this year and holding elections under the same in October, all old rules ceased to exist. That was the decision arrived at by the Returning Officer on an application filed by a contestant, seeking disqualification of another contestant at that time, on the grounds of non-attendance of meetings of the Executive Committee for more than three consecutive times in the previous terms. That was the correct interpretation, no doubt.
It follows that, all tournament rules ought to have been redrafted or necessary legislation enacted giving extension to the old rules. That needed administrative acumen, which is non-existent now in the absence of a full time paid secretary.
With presently, no rules in place, CAC Cansaulim have been forced into a dilemma over the registration of a new player in their Second Division matches. They were told by GFA they could not register any player now when only two more rounds were to be completed, as per the old rules. So, they played their match against Mangor yesterday and lost 0-3. It led to lodging the protest. In fact they had lodged it before the actual kick off.
Cansaulim obviously needed to know the reason for not allowing the fresh registration of players since the relevant tournament rules were not announced in view of the old constitution being abolished and with it the rules. But surprisingly, the Third Division rules do allow for registration of players at any time, although there are conflicting views on the same.
Cansaulim have been at the receiving end for no fault of theirs, as the GFA could not produce the relevant rules governing the Second Division, when they were asked for. Moreover, the schedule is so tight, that Cansaulim have to play their next match soon. But why should they be penalised when the fault is entirely GFA’s?
Cansaulim’s logic of allowing registration, was based on the Third Division rules which allow for registration any time, since this is in conformity with the AFC thinking and as such is in force at the GFA level now. At one time, the old rule of not allowing fresh registration with just two rounds to go was also existent in Third Division but it has been abolished at the instance of AFC and also because the Third Division Clubs asked for the change which was granted by GFA in September this year. The Third Division competition rules are clear on this issue.
On the other hand, Snows Football Academy, Raia, are awaiting with bated breath the result of their protest lodged against Mandopa in their U-14 football tournament match played on November 22. Snows lost the match 0-2, but lodged a protest stating that their rivals had impersonated/cheated in the case of two players and that these were also overaged.
Snows have pointed out that Mandopa had registered three players – Airito Almeida, Sherry D’Sousa and Jeet Sanjay Gupta and that it was Deles Colaco (Std X) and Ryan Raikar (Std VIII) of St Joseph’s School, Aquem who had actually played on that day instead of the two originally registered ones. The GFA had asked Snows to provide proof of the players in question, while Snows had asked that both clubs be called for further investigations and that it was for GFA to go deeper into the matter, since it was a serious case of impersonation.
The GFA stated that there was no discrepancy as per the list. However, Snows countered that they had certificates to prove their point. “We are ready with documentary evidence for long time now,” but there has been no communication from GFA till date,” declared a top Snows FA team which felt that cheating should be punished by all means and no leniency or mercy be shown at all.
Meanwhile, Schubert Furtado, chairman, competitions committee, admitted that there were no rules framed for this year’s Second Division. “They have not been framed,” Schubert told Herald on telephone. He felt that the old rules were being followed and insisted that the relevant rule even existed for Third Division teams this year too, when told that it was abolished. However, some Third Division clubs stated that they had registered players even for the last two round matches this year.
The GFA is yet to streamline its working and more so its administration with the acting secretary being overburdened and perhaps being stretched to limits as can be seen from no action being taken over an incident in Bro Eulalio inter-club/village football tournament at Fatorda wherein referee Milagres was manhandled during the PY Nuvem and Verna match.
Meanwhile, the GFA admitted there are no rules governing the Second Division and have thought of adopting the old rules now, until new regulations are formulated. That’s what is called professionalism.
