Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, FEB 12: The Mumbai Schools Sports Association MSSA yesterday debarred former International BS Kuttappa from officiating as a coach during its inter-school hockey matches. In a letter addressed to Don Bosco School, Matunga, where Kuttappa coaches the U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 teams, MSSA stated that its executive committee had unanimously arrived at the decision to suspend the 49-year-old coach till further notice.8217;
The suspension follows a report filed by umpires Saby D8217;Souza and Rommel Pereira during an inter-school rink hockey match on November 18, where Kuttappa was shown a red card for, according to the referees8217; report, 8220;questioning their decision and abusing them.8221;
Calling the decision high-handed, the Don Bosco school management is serving MSSA with a legal notice, challenging the suspension.
School principal Fr Edward D8217;Souza told Express Newsline, 8220;an indefinite suspension is too harsh a punishment for misbehaviour in one match. Kuttappa possibly deserved the red card. But any suspension should have been time-bound. It is nearly four months and 20 matches since that incident.8221;
The match in question was the semi-final of the Colgate-sponsored inter-school rink hockey tournament, between Don Bosco and St Andrew8217;s at the latter8217;s courts. Kuttappa was shown a red card; Bosco won the match, but lost the final.
On November 19, MSSA issued the school a show cause notice summoning the school principal to face an inquiry, failing which further action would be taken against the former India deep defender. Fr D8217;Souza attended an inquiry on December 10. MSSA8217;s suspension letter has come two months later.
Interestingly, Kuttappa continues to be a member of the MSSA hockey sub-committee. He said, 8220;The issue should at least have been discussed by the hockey committee before being taken up by the executive committee.8221;
Esmero Figueiredo, honorary general secretary, MSSA, said Kuttappa8217;s action deserved the suspension, as it had crossed the tolerance limit. 8220;Despite getting a technical foul, he continued to question the referee and abused him,8221; he said.
Express Newsline sought the opinion of MA Kareem, convenor of the Bombay Hockey Association referees8217; board. He said, 8220;The duration of suspension depends on the flagrancy of the foul. For instance, Indian players received a one-and-a-half-year suspension for assaulting a referee in Dhaka. Similarly, abusing a referee could draw a suspension of one-two months. But the suspension period should be clearly mentioned. I am surprised they have suspended him till 8220;further notice.8221;
Kareem also expressed surprise the notice had been issued nearly four months after the incident.
