GANGTOK,: The ‘A’ Division S-League 2024-25 which has seen several
disruptions is resuming from Monday with a new revised fixture for the
remaining matches to be played at Paljor Stadium.
The
State’s top-tier league had witnessed several disputes leading the clubs
threatening to boycott the league amidst allegations of poor refereeing and
lackadaisical management. The Sikkim Football Association (SFA) in turn blames
the clubs and its players for frequently manhandling the match referees leading
to match suspensions.
The
latest controversy was over the two-match suspension imposed on Brotherhood FC
for alleged manhandling the match referee. In response, seven of the eight
clubs announced to withdraw from the league if their demands for professional
conduct of the matches are not met. The clubs expressed their dissatisfaction
with how the SFA has handled the league’s operations, particularly its delayed
start, poor communication and erratic scheduling.
The newly
revised fixture was also a source of discontent. Teams are expected to play
three matches in four days, which clubs described as “unreasonable and
demonstrates a lack of concern for the well-being of players.”
On
Sunday, the SFA held a meeting with the ‘A’ division clubs’ representatives at
Football House, Gangtok where the demands placed by the clubs were discussed in
detail, a press release informs.
SFA
president Menla Ethenpa said the association understand the challenges posed by
the current fixture but, he mentioned, is beyond the SFA’s jurisdiction as the
field (Paljor Stadium) does not belong to the association. At the same time,
the SFA is open to revisiting the schedule and making the necessary adjustments
to ensure a more reasonable and player-friendly arrangement as our goal is to
prioritize the health and well-being of the players while maintaining a
competitive balance, he said.
Regarding
the disruptions and delay in holding the matches, the SFA president pointed out
that the league had started with local national-level referees but after some
matches, these referees were refused by all the ‘A’ Division clubs. On the
clubs’ demand, the SFA invited a team of referees from Assam Football
Association but, unfortunately in the name of heat of the moment, referee
officials from Assam FA were abused and manhandled repeatedly, he said.
Faced
with such hostility, the referees from Assam returned to their State but in the
whole episode of cancelling the local referees and inviting officials from
Assam and now inviting referees from Kolkata took many days.
“All
together these took unfortunate 10-11 days how to manage? Who is responsible?
How to conclude the tournament in scheduled fixture time? These are the questions which we have to find
out the answer and to get the solution of the problem with collective
accountability. Technically the time for
this league championship is to 31 May 2025. But, we believe so many things
cannot be solve as per the technical terms and norms,” said the SFA officials
at the meeting.
After a
detailed briefing by the president SFA, the eight clubs took the collective
decision to play the ‘A’ Divisoin league and on the condition that ban imposed
upon Brotherhood FC be lifted, the release mentions.
In turn, the
SFA pointed out that it will take a call of lifting the ban once the court case
filed by Brotherhood FC is withdrawn from the court, to which the club agreed
to withdraw the case.
On the
request of the clubs it has also been decided to advance all the clubs a sum of
Rs.30,000 each as loan subject to adjustment in the final release of Rs. 1 lakh
which is being kept as grant-in-aid for “A” division clubs, the release
mentions.
“The new
revised fixture is being drawn and the matches will resume from September 30.
The general secretary, FA has been advised to visit Sports department forthwith
to confirm the availability of Paljor Stadium for the conduction of the
remaining matches of ‘A’ Division. All the club officials unanimously resolved
not to repeat misbehaviour attitude towards the referees,” said the SFA.
