NEW DELHI, Oct 25 (PTI): Cracking the whip, the All India Football Federation today suspended head coach of Atletico de Kolkata Antonio Lopez Habas for four matches while two players Robert Pires and Fikru Lemessa have been banned for two matches for breaching disciplinary code during the ongoing Indian Super League.
Both the players and the coach were involved in ugly altercations during an ill-tempered match between Atletico de Kolkata and FC Goa at Margao on October 23.
Apart from the suspensions, all three have been fined Rs 5 lakh by the AIFF�s Disciplinary Committee for breach of Disciplinary Code related to Offensive Behaviour and Fairplay.
Predipkumar Bhaktawer, goalkeeper coach of Atletico de Kolkata, has been suspended for next one match of ISL and fined Rs 30,000 for breach of League Rule 22.2.
Appeal, if any, can be made within four days of the announcement of AIFF Disciplinary Committee decision.
Antonio Lopez Habas, head coach of Atletico de Kolkata has been suspended for next four matches of Indian Super League and fined Rs 500,000 (Rupees 5 lakh) for breach of All India Football Federation Disciplinary Code (Article 58) of Offensive Behaviour and Fair Play for the second time,� the ISL said in a release, ending speculation on the fate of the well-known coach. Antonio Lopez Habas was previously summoned with a warning by the AIFF�s Disciplinary Committee under its Article 58, earlier on October 18.
�Robert Pires of FC Goa has been suspended for next two matches of Indian Super League and fined Rs 5,00,000 (Rupees Five Lakh) for breach of All India Football Federation Disciplinary Code (Article 58) of Offensive Behaviour and Fair Play,� the release said. �Fikru Lemessa of Atletico de Kolkata has been suspended for next two matches of Indian Super League and fined Rs 500,000 (Rupees Five Lakh) for breach of All India Football Federation Disciplinary Code (Article 58) of Offensive Behaviour and Fail Play,� it added.
Habas and Pires were reportedly involved in an altercation in the tunnel when the two teams left for the half-time break in that match which was won by Atletico de Kolkata. At the post-match press conference, FC Goa coach Zico alleged that former France international and Arsenal legend Pires was punched by Kolkata coach Habas during a half-time altercation.
�The other thing that happened which is more serious is that one of our players said that he was beaten by the coach of the other team. Pires said he was punched on the face by the Atletico coach and it is very shameful,� Zico had said.
�I am telling you what my players told me and I didn�t see that myself but I don�t think that Pires will lie and say something that didn�t happen. And when the team entered the field in the second half, they were very nervous and during the half time we were only trying to control their nerves and calm them down,� he had said.
The team manager of FC Goa Jonathan D�Sousa had asked the ISL Disciplinary Committee to take strong action against the players and officials of Atletico de Kolkata for their conduct against the Goa outfit during the match.
D�Sousa has lodged a protest with the Match Commissioner for the alleged punching of Pires by Habas in the area in front of the players� dressing rooms during the half time.
He also complained to the Match Commissioner that the referee should have expelled ATK player Fikru for �head-butting� FC Goa player Gregory Arnolin.
On the other hand, media reports said that ATK officials have asked the ISL to find out what had actually happened during the reported altercation by collecting evidence from CCTV footages and other means.
