The suspension follows a report filed by umpires Saby D'Souza and Rommel Pereira during an inter-school rink hockey match on November 18, where Kuttappa was shown a red card for, according to the referees' report, ``questioning their decision and abusing them.''

Calling the decision high-handed, the Don Bosco school management is serving MSSA with a legal notice, challenging the suspension.

School principal Fr Edward D'Souza told Express Newsline, ``an indefinite suspension is too harsh a punishment for misbehaviour in one match. Kuttappa possibly deserved the red card. Butany suspension should have been time-bound. It is nearly four months and 20 matches since that incident.''

The match in question was the semi-final of the Colgate-sponsored inter-school rink hockey tournament, between Don Bosco and St Andrew's at the latter's courts. Kuttappa was shown a red card; Bosco won the match, but lost the final.

On November 19, MSSA issued the school a show cause notice summoning the school principal to face an inquiry, failing which further action would be taken against the former India deep defender. Fr D'Souza attended an inquiry on December 10. MSSA's suspension letter has come two months later.

Interestingly, Kuttappa continues to be a member of the MSSA hockey sub-committee. He said, ``The issue should at least have been discussed by the hockey committee before being taken up by the executive committee.''

Esmero Figueiredo, honorary general secretary, MSSA, said Kuttappa's action deserved the suspension, as it had crossed the tolerance limit. ``Despite getting atechnical foul, he continued to question the referee and abused him,'' he said.

Express Newsline sought the opinion of MA Kareem, convenor of the Bombay Hockey Association referees' board. He said, ``The duration of suspension depends on the flagrancy of the foul. For instance, Indian players received a one-and-a-half-year suspension for assaulting a referee in Dhaka. Similarly, abusing a referee could draw a suspension of one-two months. But the suspension period should be clearly mentioned. I am surprised they have suspended him till ``further notice.''

Kareem also expressed surprise the notice had been issued nearly four months after the incident.