Mohun Bagan today shot off a letter to the All India Football Federation,asking it to reply within seven days on the interim reprieve given to Bhaichung Bhutia and said they are open to alternative legal options and might even approach the world governing body FIFA. In a six-page missive to AIFF President Praful Patel,Bagan General Secretary Anjan Mintra questioned the move by AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco to refer the matter to arbitrator Amarendra Sharan,who had declared Bhutia a free player,thus giving him interim relief till a final decision is taken to resolve the suspension row. It is really hard to understand how by-passing both the governing body of the local committee and the players status committee the matter has been sent to Mr Sharan, Mitra wrote in the letter. Alleging irregularities against Colaco,who referred the matter to Sharan,the letter stated,it is the view of the general public that since the dispute is with Mr Bhutia who enjoys the position of an icon in Indian football,the AIFF has committed all the irregularities. So kindly let us know all the facts and circumstances. We suspect probably you are not aware of the scenario. Mr Bhutia is a player registered under IFA. It is the standing players status committee of the IFA who is the real authority to determine the status of Bhutia. It is also a fact that even FIFA believes that the local body is the authority to determine any issue. We,all the members of our executive committee,are absolutely in dark. We did not have any other option but to write a letter, the letter addressed to AIFF President stated. The process of arbitration is not mandatory in nature and it can only be an option. We never entered into any agreement nor agreed for terms of reference to the arbitrator, the letter said. It also said that there was disparity in the AIFF as in the case of N P Pradeep and Steven Dias. Kindly enlighten the facts and the situation which prompted the secretary of the AIFF to refere the matter before Mr Sharan. Kindly consider my submissions seriously and reply within seven days otherwise my club shall have no other otpion but refer the matter before appropriate authority, it stated. In the interim relief on September 26,Sharan had said since he would need some more time to submit his report,he had decided to allow Bhutia to play with a rider that if the decision goes against him then he will have to sit out the remaining two and half months of his six-month suspension. Bagan had suspended Bhutia for six months without pay on disciplinary grounds after he missed an exhibition match and some practice sessions last season. Having signed for East Bengal,the Indian captain is currently with the side for their away I-League opener against Pune FC on October 3.
