Goan football
lovers are a baffled lot. On one side of the field stands Churchill
Brothers Football Club patron and strong
football lover Churchill Alemao and on the other, the All India football Federation
(AIFF).
It has been a while now that the Churchill Brothers team has
been dismissed from the AIFF I League for failing to fulfil certain mandatory
criterias imposed on AIFF by the Asian Football Council (AFC) and other bodies
associated with soccer. At the end of the day , if the whip is not lashed , it
is not just Churchill Brothers but many from up the line who have to face a
whiplash. To avoid that , Churchill Brothers and three other teams in the I
League have had to go home.
The teams dismissed appealed.They failed. The AFC applauded
the AIFF for the stand taken. Churchill Brothers and officials of the other
teams fumed. There were rumours that the Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS) would
be approached. Infact, that was the only option left for Churchill Brothers and
the other teams.
However, the teams decided to take a different route-t hey
approached the High Court In New Delhi . Is this the best resort?
“As far as we are concerned , all the options are exhausted.
They were given a chance. They did not take it. Indian football has to move
forward. We did all we could the FIFA rules are very clear. There is nothing
the AIFF can do,” stated AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das.
“We have got certain documents. As far as we are concerned,
there is nothing else we can do. There is no footballing scope by going to the
High Court,” stated I League CEO Sunando Dhar.
Churchill Brothers , however , is after a long while,
keeping his cards tightly on his chest. “No comments,’ he said while not ruling
out a fight with the AIFF till the end.”Every Goan knows how much I have done
for football. Something clerical should not come in the way of a club that has
done so much for football. This does not make footballing sense,” averred the
patron of the club.
“It depends on what the matter is. But, the High Court has
vast jurisdiction. Nothing can be ruled out. I do not know the case of
Churchill Brothers but I know that the High Court cannot be ignored,” stated
noted lawyer Aires Rodrigues.
Churchill silence at this point of time seems to be turning
the I League cake to bread . Fortunately , most of his players have moved to
more assuring pastures. After all , their futures are at stake. Goan football
is too. Though not much, football in Goa will be better if the ball rolls.
Churchill has a chance to do just that –once again! Will he?
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