MUMBAI, July 1: Shahzad Shah, secretary (football) of the Central Railway Sports Association (CRSA), has threatened drastic action if his association's appeal against a seventh-month ban on midfielder Arif Ansari is not upheld.

The Western India Football Association (WIFA) disciplinary committee informed Shah he is also the chairman of the WIFA Super Division committee today that the ban has been slapped on Ansari as disciplinary action for his comments in the press.

Ansari was quoted as refusing to join the Maharashtra team for the National Games as vice-captain of a changed squad after being informed that he would be leading the side.

Ansari, according to Shah, was initially informed of his appointment as captain by coach Derek D'Souza. However, two days later, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) relaxed its restriction on national list players for the National Games. Consequently, Air-India's Godfrey Pereira was named skipper with Ansari as his deputy.

Ansari had not attended the training camp for a couple of days before the team's departure to Bangalore. He gave medical reasons for his absence and produced a doctor's certificate in his defence, according to a team spokesman.

Shah condemns the WIFA action as ``not commensurate with the mistake committed by Ansari, who was understandably depressed'' on his sudden demotion. Shah lamented: ``Not being erudite, Ansari told a reporter, when contacted, that he was very unhappy and dejected. Replying to a question, he (Ansari) said, he wasn't sure of joining the squad.

``The decision has upset us very much. We are playing well this season and are trying to make an impact. But for the second year in succession we are the victims of WIFA's strange decisions.''

Last season a reverse result saw Central Railway end up losers after beating Mahindras 3-2. A team spokesman alleged, tampered records deemed defender Dweyn Sequeira ineligible to play the match in question. The spokesman claimed that Sequeira had already served a match suspension in the prior game against Air-India and was perfectly eligible to take part against Mahindras.

The WIFA banned Ansari from two intervening matches till today's decision.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.