GFA hands six-month ban to player for referee assault

Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa’s Trijoy Dias will not be able to feature for his club until January 31 next year after being suspended by the Goa Football Association ( GFA ).

The midfielder was found guilty of assaulting Fifa referee Tejas Nagvenkar during the Taca Goa U-20 final against Goan FC at Duler Football Stadium, Mapusa, early this year.

The player from Cuncolim was shown a direct red card in the 21st minute of the game for a challenge on the opponent. He is reported to have lost his cool, and in the confrontation that followed, allegedly punched the match official. The GFA at first suspended him with immediate effect, but while the association was mulling over a life ban for the player, there were no Fifa regulations to support such drastic action.

The ban has also not been implemented with retrospective effect and will instead kick off early this month when the order was issued.

Coach Savio Vaz, now in-charge of the senior team, also received a warning for his actions on the sidelines.

Other players who have been suspended are Anthony Fernandes (Candolim SC) from August 6, Russel Fernandes (ABC Sports Club, Arambol) from October 5, Sevaraj D’Costa (Guirdolim Club) from October 1 and Jason Monteiro (AA de Moira) from September 11.

Meanwhile, Panjim Footballers manager Anthony Vaz has also been reprimanded for conveying “misleading information” to the media. Panjim Footballers had not completed their player registration in time in the CRS (Central Registration System) and CMS (Competition Management System). They were lined up to face defending Goa Professional League champions FC Goa in their first match on October 4 which had to be abandoned.

“The clubs were informed about the CRS, CMS, much before the start of the Professional League and that Panjim Footballers woke up late at 12 noon when they were scheduled to play on October 4. Mr Anthony was requested to weigh in the matter before going to the press,” the GFA letter stated.

Sporting Clube and Vaz are expected to respond to on Wednesday.