Separate AIFF Disciplinary Panel Proceedings Begin To Decide Kerala Blasters' Fate

The All India Football Federation's disciplinary committee has begun the proceedings to decide on a possible sanction against Kerala Blasters after the Kochi-based side walked out of their Indian Super League match against Bengaluru FC. The AIFF disciplinary panel on Monday dismissed Kerala Blasters' demand for a replay of the match and strict action against the referee of the ISL play-off match played in Bengaluru on Friday. Kerala Blasters woes are not over yet as the AIFF DC will decide whether they will be sanctioned for walking out of the match after a contentious Sunil Chhetri strike.

"The AIFF DC has initiated the process whether to impose sanctions on KBFC. A decision is likely in 10 days," a top source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

"Deciding on whether their (KBFC's) protest was maintainable or not and whether there would be sanction or not, the two issues are total different and not related to each other," the source added.

"A decision on their protest has been given and now a decision on the sanction issue will come." The source said multiple hearings could happen before a decision is pronounced by the AIFF panel.

Under Article 58 of the AIFF Disciplinary Code (of 2021), dealing with "abandonment" of matches, Kerala Blasters could cough up Rs 6 lakh fine and even may attract disqualification from a competition in progress and/or exclusion from a future competition.

According to Article 58.1: "If a team refuses to play a Match or to continue playing one which has begun, it has committed an offence. Penalty: forfeit of the Match; and fine of at least INR 6,00,000 (Rupees Six Lakh)." But Article 58.2 reads as: "In serious cases, the offence is aggravated. Penalty: forfeit of the Match; and fine of at