AIFF fined $18,000 by AFC for fan invasion during India's Asian Cup qualifiers in June

Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Kolkata in June. But, the bulk of the amount -- $13,500 -- is a suspended fine to be paid in case of repeat offence within two years. The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) imposed a $8,000 fine on the AIFF after one home spectator invaded India team's technical bench -- a restricted area -- during the match against Afghanistan.

India beat Afghanistan 2-1 in the match played at Salt Lake Stadium on June 11. The AFC's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee considered the fan invasion as "an act of improper conduct" on the part of the AIFF. It said India failed to fulfil its obligations on two counts -- "take every safety precaution demanded by the circumstances during the match" and "ensure that law and order was maintained in the stadium and its immediate surroundings".

"AIFF is ordered to pay a fine of $3,000 for violating Art. 65.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code ... $2,250 of the amount ...

is suspended for a probationary period of two years," the ruling said relating to the first part of the offence. "Should another violation of a similar nature occur within the probationary period, the suspension is automatically revoked, and the sanction applied; it is added to the sanction pronounced for the new infringement." The AFC said the unsuspended portion of the fine -- $750 -- shall be settled within 90 days from the date of the communication of the decision. For the second part of the offence, the AFC committee ordered the AIFF to pay a fine of $5,000 out of which $3,750 is suspended for a probationary period of two years.