PANJIM: At a time when Goa Football Association (GFA) appeared to be cruising smoothly with a lot of positive development agenda, events relating to a mere protest in an inter-village tournament have caused a virtual North-South divide.
It has been alleged that the GFA didn’t follow proper procedures as they handed over an invalid registration card without security feature and allowing registration for another First Division club without authority.
Suraj Khauthankar played for Pilerne SC in the match against Cuncolim Union in the ongoing inter-village tournament in Colvale. Pilerene SC, who won the match via the tie-breaker were slapped with a protest by the rival club with regards to Suraj being an outstation player.
A former Penha de France player Suraj, who supposedly took an inter-State transfer to Pattakkdil Tamil Mandal Club in Kholapur, returned back to Goa with a letter from the club stating that he is not registered with them.
The player was however asked to get it routed through proper channel.
Sources from GFA disclosed that an emergency meeting of Executive Committee was held late evening after the Appeal Committee could not settle on the issue on Tuesday.
It was found that an email had been sent to All India Football Federation (AIFF) requesting the needful to be done but there was no reply whatsoever from the association.
Speaking on the matter, Cuncolim Union Club President Prakash Dessai questioned , “How has the GFA instead of renewing his registration issued him an initial player card, when he has played for over 10 years in Goa. I’ll file the Arbitration petition in this regard.”
South Goa Vice President, Schubert Furtado who presided over the Executive Committee meeting with regards to the issue said, “GFA is not at fault. It is the AIFF who is at fault as they should’ve registered the player under CRS.”
Meanwhile, it is learned that the President Elvis Gomes avoided the meeting citing involvement of his own club.
