Controversy and Indian football go hand in hand but the incident in the ISL playoff match between Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters on Friday, 3 March 2023 crossed all limits. The two clubs from Southern India were locked in an intriguing battle for a place in the semi-finals to face ISL Shield winners Mumbai City FC. On the pitch, it was a tight affair at the Kanteerava Stadium with nothing able to separate them in 90 minutes as the game ended 0-0. In the 6th minute of the first half of extra time in the eliminator game, Bengaluru FC were awarded a free-kick close to the penalty area which the captain Sunil Chhetri took it quickly with the ball resting in the net without the referee’s whistle or before the Blasters’ wall and the goalkeeper could settle in their place.
The match official of the day, Crystal John awarded the goal to the fury of the away side. Kerala Blasters protested that the goal was illegal to stand as John did not make the procedure of measuring the wall for 10 yards after marking the place for the free-kick. Secondly, he did not blow the whistle for the free-kick to be taken with the opposition not ready for the set-piece. The events that followed were remarkable and hardly seen before in Indian football. Blasters' head coach Ivan Vukomanovic stormed onto the pitch out of his technical area arguing with the referee. After realizing Crystal John will not change his decision, the Serbian called his player off the pitch and went down the tunnel to the dressing rooms.
It happened during the 100th minute of the match. The officials and the Bengaluru FC players waited for 20 minutes after that to know if Blasters would turn up. With no sign of them returning to the pitch as the clock ran out and after consulting with the match commissioner, Bengaluru FC were given the walkover victory. A controversial night that ended with the Blues going through to the semi-finals but not the way they imagined. The question is now what will happen after an incident of this magnitude.
Check out here 2022/23 ISL Playoffs: Teams and Fixtures
What Punishments can Kerala Blasters get?
There has been no official statement made by the ISL, league organizers, or the AIFF about the incident at the time of writing. However, credible reports suggest Kerala Blasters will hardly escape punishments for their walkout decision. The law states that, ‘If a team refuses to continue to play or leaves the field of Play/Stadium before end of the match, the penal action can include a deduction of points and/or suspension by the League.’ In that case, the Tuskers could receive a points deduction at the start of the next season which will force them to begin at a disadvantage. Suspension from the league is also not ruled out.
The league will consult the Indian football governing body in the event of a breach of any regulation and may also take further action in addition to the ones made by the AIFF if the breach also adversely impacts the commercial interest or the reputation of the ISL. The walkout definitely made headlines and it left a bad taste in the mouth of everyone involved hence the consequences of it will be high for the Blasters. Other reports also say that fines could be charged in the amount between ₹3 crores to ₹10 crores which will carry a big financial toll on the club.
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