The Disciplinary Committee of the 10th National Football League rejected Fransa Pax's demand for a replay of their January 30 match against Mahindra United and opined that the defiant Goan club officials should be asked to depose before the committee at the earliest.
After a meeting at 'Football House', New Delhi, presided by S R Dev (Madhya Pradesh) and attended by S A Hamid (Jammu Kashmir) and Capt S S Virk (Services Sports Control Board) in Delhi on Thursday, the committee rejected Fransa demand for a replay of the match and said, "The result stands as the protest is on a decision of the referee, based on a point of fact."
Fransa had pulled out of the NFL citing poor refereeing and demanded a replay of their January 30 match. On Wednesday, the club responded to an AIFF ultimatum to rejoin the league or face consequences.
Regarding possible disciplinary action against players and officials of the club, the committee said, "For the sake of natural justice, the committee is of the opinion that the concerned players and officials be invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the NFL at the earliest."
On Fransa's match against Air India, which the Goan side did not turn up for, the committee felt it was not under their jurisdiction and "should be decided by the Emergency Committee of the 10th National Football League".
The committee also rejected a protest by Sporting Clube De Goa [Images] regarding the result of their match against JCT, and Mohammedan Sporting's protest regarding fielding of an 'ineligible player' by Air India," an AIFF statement said.
Mohammedan Sporting had contended that Air India defender Binoy Kuruvilla was ineligible to play in the match as he had picked two yellow cards -- against Salgaocar and East Bengal -- and should have ideally served a one-match suspension.