MDFA Super Division: Young Boys suspension reduced

by Chittu Shetty May 6, 2018

An intervention from Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) president Aaditya Thackeray has resulted in a reduced ban for Super Division team, Young Boys, who were involved in a major controversy last month.

On April 10, MDFA Super Division side – Young Boys and their supporters were involved in a major altercation in which they had beaten up their opponents, Salsette FC players, after their match at the Mumbai Football Arena. There was a huge uproar as the blatant assault was captured on video and circulated throughout the social media.

According to sources the MDFA disciplinary committee had held a meeting and recommended that the team be banned for three years along with a monetary fine of Rs 2 lakh. The committee also recommended individual 3-year bans to 11 players involved in the altercation while a 5-year ban was suggested to their goalkeeper Sarfaraz Ansari for instigating the fight. The 11 players were fined Rs 10,000 each while Sarfaraz will have to pay Rs 25,000.

However, the team members met with MDFA President Aaditya Thackeray soon after and had requested leniency on the ban. With future of young players at stake, Thackeray relented and asked the ban on the team to be reduced to just one year, however the fine was increased from 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Players from Salsette FC were left badly bruised after the incident, with one player Siddhant Shetty, having boot marks just below his eye. At one point during the fight, 10 players had pinned Shetty to the ground and attacked him as one can see in the video.

MDFA secretary U Banerjee opined that the decision was fair. “I know the disciplinary committee asked for the team to be banned for three years, but even a 1-year ban means that they will have to play in the 1st Division after a year. So that’s like a ban in itself,” he said.

A managing member of one the Super Divisions clubs told TOI on the condition of anonymity that the reduced ban sets a wrong precedent. “Teams will think it’s alright to hit their opponents after the match. A 3-year ban for the club would’ve set a right precedent and deterred other clubs of behaving the way they (Young Boys) did.”

Despite repeated attempts Thackeray was unreachable for comment.

The video of the incident is available here: VIDEO: A fight broke out after Young Boys vs Salsette’s Super Division game

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