Breaking News: Churchill Brothers launch a protest against Real Kashmir, officially written to AIFF

Ravish Narvekar

The Kashmiri side had fielded the fourth Ghanaian in the 65th minute replacing the Tajikistani forward in the match.

Churchill Brothers FC has officially launched a protest against Real Kashmir FC for fielding four foreigners against them in today’s match played at TRC Polo Synthetic Turf Ground, Srinagar. The match resulted in a solitary goal win in favour of the host.

However, the Snow Leopards fielded fourth foreigner, Ghanaian Ibrahim Nurudeen replacing their Tajikistani forward Nozim Babadzhanov in the 65th minute. However, it looked like the Kashmiri side realised their mistake and rectified it within the next two minutes with another substitute. Another Ghanaian forward Issahak Seidu made way for an Indian midfielder Moirangthem Meitei making it three foreigners in the 67th minute.

“We have written to the All India Football Federation regarding the same matter. It is completely against the law of the league. it is compulsory to field an Asian player if you are fielding four foreigners. But, here they removed the AFC national player and fielded another foreign player making it all Ghanaian on the field.” A close source in the club told the-kickoff.com

“We expect nothing less than three points as they (Real Kashmir) have broken the rule by fielding more numbers of foreigners. We are looking forward to the reply from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).” He added

As per the rules of the I-League, a club can register six foreigners, including one Asian in the match day squad but permitted only four of them in the starting XI, one should be from the AFC members nation.

The match was officiated by V Eshwar Rao and it looked like the referee was instructing the Real Kashmir official not to replace the Tajikistani with the Ghanaian as it was against the rule but the Kashmiri side was stubborn about their decision.

Sudhir Menon, the Match Commissioner of today’s match between the two sides, denied commenting anything on the matter. “I am not permitted to comment anything on this matter. If Churchill Brothers have launched the protest, then AIFF is the right place to get any information on the same.” The match official said over the phone call.

It was the first-ever victory for Real Kashmir against Churchill Brothers where the controversial substitute Ghanaian forward Nurudeen’s goal in the 75th minute made the difference between the two sides. In the previous six encounters, Churchill Brothers had won three outings against the Kashmiri side, while three matches ended in a draw. Whereas, the Red Machines are yet to secure their first win in the league. they had suffered defeats in the first two matches against Rajasthan United FC and Sreenidi Deccan FC, while managed to hold Mumbai Kenkre FC to register their first point in the league.