The Hindu : Sport / Football : Fresh ultimatum to Fransa

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Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

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Sport - Football

Fresh ultimatum to Fransa

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI : The All India Football Federation (AIFF), dithering over the disciplinary action to be taken against Goan club Fransa Pax, has given the team a fresh ultimatum.

The federation has asked the Goan club to give an undertaking by February 20 that it would follow the regulations of the ONGC Cup National Football League, AIFF, FIFA and AFC.

While upholding its earlier decision that the point of facts in the NFL match between Fransa and Mahindra United played on January 30 should be honoured in accordance with the report of the referee, the NFL Disciplinary Committee ruled that three points should be awarded to Mahindras "on the result of 2-1".

As for the misbehaviour of the players during and after the match, the committee said that the clubs "should be booked as AIFF feels proper."

The AIFF stated that from the frequent change of opinion in different protest notes and correspondence between the federation and Fransa it was well established that the "top management" of the club was against "any regulation, statutory obligation of NFL and AIFF rules."

The AIFF further stated that the club's "defiant attitude and conditional approach" has brought disrepute to the game.

However, having stated all that, the federation has continued to drag its feet on the matter. Earlier an ultimatum was given to Fransa to apologise and revoke its decision to quit the NFL by February 8. When that was not forthcoming another committee meeting was held, though nothing concrete emerged again.

Now a fresh warning and a fresh deadline have been issued.

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