FC Goa Punishment Reduced After Owners Reach a Compromise With ISL

On Friday, the ISL Appeals Panel revoked the ban imposed on FC Goa owners- Dattaraj Salgaocar (3 years) and Srinivas Dempo (2 years). Yet, the two businessmen have decided to exit from the Goa-based ISL franchise.

NDTV has learnt that their pull-out is part of a compromise they reached with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the owners of ISL. According to the unwritten agreement- Salgaocar and Dempo give up their stake in the franchise, whilst ISL reverses their bans and gives them an honourable exit.

The reduction in the fine from 11 Crore to 6 Crore, and no deduction in points for next season were also part of the bargain. NDTV understands that FSDL also demanded that the physical assault case registered against Brazilian star Elano be withdrawn immediately. In return, Elano was asked to issue an apology letter, which the Chennaiyin FC player has already submitted to the Appeals Panel.

NDTV was the first to show exclusive footage of the fracas that followed a nail-bitting 2015 ISL final between FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC. The footage clearly showed that FC Goa owners and support-staff physically assaulted Elano after the latter had walked over to their dug-out in an effort to console them after a heart-breaking loss.

Later that night, Elano was taken to a local police station in Goa and spent four hours there after the Goa police registered an FIR against based on a complaint from Salgaocar and Dempo. The incident attracted wide spread criticism from the Indian football fraternity, including Bhaichung Bhutia, who had called it 'bad publicity for Indian football'.

Sources informed NDTV that the Mumbai-based Deltin Group, which also owns Casinos in Goa, is expected to buy the stake in FC Goa held by Salgaocar and Dempo. Videocon and Virat Kohli will continue to be the co-owners.The official announcement is likely to be made in a day or two.