GFA dismiss YC Manora's plea, relegates to First Division League

Ravish Narvekar

The Goa Professional League is set to begin on 6th December 2022 with the Launch of the league scheduled for 23rd November.

The Arbitration Tribunal Committee of the Goa Football Association has decided to uphold the decision of relegation of Youth Club of Manora from the Goa Professional League. The Arbitration Committee was headed by Adv. Francisco Tavora and were assisted by Adv. Pritesh Shetty and Adv. Anthony D’Silva.

“The Appeal stands dismissed. The decision of the Executive Committee of the Goa Football Association dated 12.05.2022 imposing relegation on the Appellant which is reiterated by its decision dt. 12.07.2022, stands upheld, and consequently the Appellant Club shall stand relegated to the First Division for the season 2022-23.” The order says given by the three members Arbitration Committee.

The relegation matter of Manora was taken up for deliberation in the Executive Committee meeting which was held on 12th May 2022 and the majority of the members voted in favour of the relegation of the club. However, then-president Churchill Alemao decided to withhold the relegation of the club and keep it in abeyance.

The Ex-Co once again met on 12th July 2022 and it was reiterated that relegation of the South Goan club for the 2021-22 season would stand and consequently letter was sent to all the GPL Clubs intimating the same.

The GFA Vice President North Goa, Jonathan De Souza was pleased with the Arbitration Tribunal for quickly taking the hearing on short notice and said “I am thankful to the Arbitration Tribunal headed by Adv. Francisco Tavora, who was assisted by Adv. Pritesh Shetty and Adv. Anthony D’Silva. They met at short notice and disposed off the pending matter quickly. The previous President, General Secretary and Competitions Committee Chairman slept over the matter since July and deliberately tried to delay the hearing due to which the Goa Professional League got delayed.”

Manora had appealed to the said Tribunal on 23rd July 2022 to hold the decision of their relegation on the ground of parity that Sesa Football Academy’s relegation was cancelled in the season 2020-21. The next point they mentioned in the appeal was that since there was no First Division League conducted for the last three seasons, demoting them to the lower league will be unfair to the club predominantly caters to the promotion of local talent. The said club has also raised the question that why the Ex-Co waits to decide on relegation after the end of the GPL. They also self-explained the above-raised question saying “it is to check which is the team that is at the bottom of the standing and then decide to relegate if the club is not favourable to some Executive Committee Members.”

The relegation of YC Manora means that only 11 teams will ply their trade in the upcoming GPL 22-23 as there will be no promoted team from GFA’s First Division League due to the non-conducting of the league for the last three seasons.

The Ex-Co members meeting was held following the verdict of the Arbitration Tribunal Committee and decided to begin the Goa Professional League 2022-23 from 6th December 2022. “We have decided to begin the Goa Professional League on 6th December. The Launch of the league is most likely to be held on 23rd November with all the stakeholders of the league and the GPL Clubs’ captain.” Jonathan informed thekick.com exclusively.