the goan I network
MARGAO
The review petition filed by outgoing Goa Football Association member Arnaldo Costa after he was disqualified from contesting for the post of Executive Committee Member (Salcete Zone) following a complaint by fellow contestant Patwin Fizardo was rejected on Friday.
The review petition came up for hearing at GFA Office in Panaji and Returning Officer John Abreu Lobo, finding merit in the complaint, passed an order to dismiss the petition. The order means that Costa cannot contest for the GFA Executive Committee post.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in a city hotel, Costa accused former minister Avertano Furtado’s panel for the complaint for disqualification. “Patwin Fizardo is a member of Avertano Camp and this is a conspiracy to put me out of the fray. I informed the GFA that I was going abroad and they could have objected to my candidature during the time of scrutiny, but they didn’t,”
Costa protested.
The outgoing member also came down heavily on the GFA for implementing the national sports code in a hurry and said that it could have be implemented after
the elections.
“The sports code was implemented in a hurry. It was done just to keep Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao from contesting for GFA’s top post. The GFA has done this to favour just one person,” Costa alleged.
Costa was the Executive Committee member of the GFA for the last four years and presently is the General Secretary of Curtorim Gymkhana. Costa said he will not file a plea against his disqualification in court as he said it will only “jeopardise the chances” of Churchill Alemao in the elections. Among those present at the press conference was Gromiko Fernandes, ex headmaster of Our Lady of Rosary High School, Fatorda.
