Federation shoots without any aim

The All India Football Federation AIFF today answered a few questions, cleared the air on a few matters and brushed under the carpet a few...

The All India Football Federation AIFF today answered a few questions, cleared the air on a few matters and brushed under the carpet a few issues surrounding Cristiano Junior8217;s death and its fallout. And though AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said Subroto Paul would be disciplined, there was no clear answer to what exactly he was being charged with.

The AIFF, he said, had no choice but to place Paul under suspension till its Disciplinary Committee takes a decision they will meet before December 28. And it appears that the options before it range from Paul no punishment to a life ban.

Match referee S M Balu has also been reprimanded for not taking action quickly enough. 8216;8216;An ambulance or medical personnel can8217;t enter the field until the referee signals them to8217;8217;, Das Munshi explained. 8216;8216;Balu took his time to call in the ambulance, and we have frozen all assignments for Balu till the Disciplinary Committee decides.8221;

Das Munshi distributed copies of the Karnataka Government Medical Department8217;s Post Mortem report, which states: 8220;Death is due to cardiac arrest as a result of functional cardiac disturbances consequent upon over-exertion and excitement8221;.

nbsp;	8216;Senior players irresponsible8217;

		nbsp;	8226; Das Munshi criticised the conduct of senior Indian footballers like Bhaichung Bhutia, who issued statements blaming Paul for Junior8217;s death and asked for a ban on Paul. 8220;There has been a hue and cry over the past seven days and a lot of mudslinging8217;8217;, he said. 8216;8216;The National Football League will start soon and Dempo will play in Kolkata and Mohun Bagan will play in Goa and we might face problems there. Senior footballers should refrain from saying what they have been and let the administration do their work.8221;	nbsp;

The Disciplinary Committee will be headed by Hardev Jadeja and will comprise NA Khan member of the Executive Committee, L R Natarajan former FIFA referee, Mohan Raj Secretary, Karnataka Football Association and Rakesh Bakshi secretary, Chandigarh Football Association. 8220;We don8217;t know what the punishment to Paul could be, if anything at all,8221; Colaco said; it will depend, he added, on 8216;8216;what Paul8217;s offence is8217;8217;.

Meanwhile, on the contentious issue of the lack of medical facilities at premier national football tournaments 8212; the presence of which might have saved Junior according to some quarters 8212; Munshi acknowledged that the AIFF has fallen short often in the past, but were taking the appropriate measures from here on. 8220;We are tightening things, with the help of the clubs.8217;8217;