Margao
Cuncolim Union will appeal the one-year long ban imposed on the club by Goa Football Association for fielding an illegible player at an inter village football tournament semi-final match in Assolna.
With the club which is currently taking part in the First Division League, the second tier of Goan football league withdraw their team as a protest over the ban and invite more sanctions from the football governing body in the state. A few options were discussed by members at the general body meeting of the social, cultural and sports organisation held at its club premises on Sunday.
The general body unanimously passed a decision that they go in appeal and also explore the arbitration option, failing which they will approach the High Court. But some members of the general body suggested that they directly approach the High Court, while others were of the opinion that the clubs’ funds should be spent on approaching the High Court.
A suggestion was made by some members to field the Cuncolim Union team under the banner of Santa Cruz Society of Poitomado, the other club from the town registered with Goa Football Association. This suggestion which was shot down by the general body after much discussion.
Meanwhile, legal experts well versed with the sports law opined that approaching the High Court is against the statutes of Goa Football Association, which all member clubs have to follow.
They added that the viable approach for the club would be exhaust all the avenues of appeal at the Goa Football Association level like Jury of Appeal and Arbitration and then talk about other forums of appeal.
For the records, Cuncolim Union team is heading the points table in the ongoing First Division League and if everything goes right till the end of the league and if they maintain the position, they will be playing in next season’s Goa Professional League.
Whether they will prefer to continue in First Division League this season and play in the Professional next season, will depend on a large extend to the ways things shape in the coming days and weeks.
