BMFC misses outside qualifying chance

On the final day of qualifiers at Haldia, Vasco Goa had filed a petition against SBT for playing players from other clubs. Vinu Jose and Ashif Saheer, who donned SBT colours at Haldia, had also played for FC Kochin earlier last season.

The matter was brought into notice of All India Football Federation AIFF by Vasco officials and reacting immediately, president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi had set up a disciplinary committee which was supposed to meet in the first week of June at Calcutta.

But apparently, the decision has been taken without the meeting. According toKrishnendu Sen, managing director of BMFC, the appeal of Vasco will not be considered as it came too late.

The appeal has to come within a few hours of the match and since it did not, SBT will move ahead as scheduled at the expense of BMFC.

8220;If teams like SBT can take players from a big club like FC Kochin and qualify, we could have the done the same,8221; said Sen.

8220;We played with 16 players as we did not have the requisite number of players. We too could have borrowed some played and qualified. That we came this close itself is creditable,8221; added Sen.

BMFC coach Jamshed Nassiri had said last month, 8220;SBT team officials accepted there itself that two of their players have played for other clubs.8221;

At Haldia, during the Super Six of second division National League, BMFC lost their first match 0-1 to Border Security Force BSF before drubbing Integral Coach Factory, Perambur ICF 5-0.

If SBT had been penalised, BMFC could have claimed a place as they finished third in the six-team competition onthe basis of goal difference. BMFC scored five goals while conceding one against BSF.

Tata Football Academy TFA was the other team which could have claimed a place as they had the same number of points i.e three, but they had scored two goals and conceded the same.

It is still not sure when the disciplinary committee will meet and give an official verdict.