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AIFF Players’ Status Committee meets at Football House

AIFF Players’ Status Committee

AIFF Players’ Status Committee

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Players’ Status Committee met at the AIFF Headquarters in Football House on Wednesday.

MP Swamy chaired the Meeting where Raju Gaikwad’s payment issues with East Bengal, and breach of contract from Jovel Martins were discussed in detail. Also on the agenda were non-payment of salaries of Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers to their players.

The other members present were Welvin Menezes, Dilip Chakroborty, Tamal Mukherjee while representatives from the concerned clubs were Chirag Tanna from Pune FC, and Victor Fernandes from Sporting Clube de Goa.

It was unanimously decided in the Meeting to impose a fine on Jovel Martins as per the AIFF Player Status Regulations Article 21 as the committee felt there was a breach of contract by the player.

Martins had signed a deal with Pune FC only to breach the protocol and renew his contract with Sporting Clube de Goa.

The fine of Rs. 1 lakh is to be paid annually to Pune FC for three years commencing from 2013-14 season.

On the second issue, that of East Bengal player and India International Raju Gaikwad, the committee after going through the letters submitted by Gaikwad and East Bengal, decided that the time period of two weeks is be given to the player to submit documentary evidence of salaries received by him and subsequently the dues to him by the club for the season 2012-13 & 2013-14.

On receipt of the same AIFF will then forward the claim made by the player to Kingfisher East Bengal for them to clear off the payments if proved right.

Further, as per the decision of the last meeting of Players’ Status Committee held on September 13 2013, the detailed statement of accounts has been received from Biswajit Saha, NP Pradeep, Khelemba Meetei, Mainish Maithani, Arindam Bhattacharya, Rakesh Masih and Jewel Raja.

The same will be forwarded to McDowell Mohun Bagan to clear off the dues on or before December 31, 2013 since it is assumed that McDowell Mohun Bagan have accepted the dues as they have not produced their statement of dues to the players within the stipulated time as decided in the last committee meeting.

The committee decided to remind the two players of Churchill Brothers in question; Sandip Nandy and Steven Dias, to submit documentary evidence of salaries received by them and the dues to them by the club.

If no reply is received from the Players within ten days from the date of this meeting, it will be assumed that the players are not interested in pursuing the matter thereby resulting in the case being closed.

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)