MARGAO, January 23: Churchill Brothers president Joaquim Alemao has tendered in his resignation as vice-president of the Goa Football Association (GFA) after learning the All-India Football Federation's (AIFF) decision to penalise his club for the abandoned National Football League (NFL) match against East Bengal on January 2.Alemao, explaining his decision, said, ``GFA has not stood by me in this crisis. I therefore have handed in my resignation.''
A meeting in Bangalore on Thursday led to East Bengal being awarded the match by three goals. Guided by the now absconding Amal Dutta, Churchill Brothers refused to play that match, protesting the choice of ball used.
Alemao informed The Indian Express today that his club plans to file an appeal in court in an attempt to stay the AIFF order and force an arbitration presenting Churchill Brothers' plea for a rematch.
While admitting that his club was wrong not to get on with the match, Alemao criticised the AIFF in what he felt was bias in favour of
the Calcutta side and insinuated a conspiracy between Amal Dutta and East Bengal to undermine Churchill Brothers.
In a press release issued today, Alemao made clear his plan of appealing in court once the written order arrives from AIFF.
Reflecting on the January 2 episode in Calcutta, the Churchill Brothers' technical director -- now coaching the side -- Armando Colaco explained that along with manager Alex Rebello, he was willing to play the match but Dutta was not. To the shock of the squad, Dutta disappeared from the bench and could not be seen anywhere in the Stadium, Colaco explained.
Alemao clarified that Ranjit Gupta, secretary of the Indian Football Association (IFA), hung up on him as he attempted to negotiate a settlement from Goa even as officials argued on the pitch.
Alemao said, ``I am convinced that there was a conspiracy against us when Ashok Ghosh, vice-president of the AIFF, announced the decision to award three points to East Bengal on radio two weeks ago.''
Churchill Brothers
have criticised IFA, the local organisers of the match in question, for not holding the managers' meeting a day prior. Alemao remarked, ``Penalising the IFA Rs 25,000 for not holding the match and punishing us at the same time only reveals a contradiction in AIFF's actions.''
Alemao also revealed the intention of summoning Amal Dutta to Goa as a step towards taking Churchill Brothers' former coach to court for breach of contract.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
