The All India Football Federation came down hard on FC Goa and Atletico De Kolkata as their ill tempered encounter on the pitch erupted into a confrontation during half time and after the match was over as players and coaches went after each other.
Arsenal legend Roberto Pires, now playing for FC Goa was banned for two matches and fined Rs 5 lakhs (approx $8100) for his dust up with Atletico De Kolkata’s coach Antonio Habas. The All India Football Federation found Pires guilty under Article 58 (Offensive Behaviour and Fair Play) ‘going towards the dressing room aggressively and pushing Antonio Habas, the coach of Atletico de Kolkata’. Pires also had to be restrained from pursuing Habas after the match was over. Habas in turn was also cited under the same article banned from the sidelines for four matches and also fined $8100 for “punching” Pires in the face and pushing him down to the ground in a half time fracas in the tunnel. In addition, ATK’s striker Fikru Teferra also sits out 2 matches and pay $8100 in fines for head butting FC Goa defender Gregory Arnolin.
The referee was extremely busy as 8 yellows were handed out. Pradipkumar Bhaktawer, ATK’s goalkeeping coach was sent off. There were also a couple of injuries. Arnolin suffered a cut on his left eye with Atletico de Kolkata defender Miguel Gonzalez Rey’s also requiring medical attention for a head laceration.
Considering the limited inaugural ISL season (3 months), these are pretty harsh sentences.
FC Goa got on the score sheet first through Arsenal laggard Andre Santos (yes, he’s in the ISL!) stunning strike before ATK struck back through Panaji’s own Cavin Lobo scoring a brace in his hometown return.
Some of the on and off pitch incidents: