Nabi, Suresh, Mama's soccer season slips into coma

Kolkata, June 5 (UNI) The soccer season of Rahim Nabi, M Suresh and Malswamatulunga seems to have slipped into a coma with no end in sight to the bickering between East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting over whose jersey the players will don.

The face-off began with Mohammedan poaching three of East Bengal's long serving footballers to their camp. East Bengal claimed to have their tokens and the signed vouchers of cash payments they had made.

The players first refuted the claims and later alleged wrong sums attached to the tokens and the trio could now be in a spot of bother going by the Indian Football Association (IFA) rule book.

Mohammedan Sporting claims that players' tokens were retained forcefully, following which the trio shot a letter to the East Bengal club last night seeking their tokens.

However, East Bengal have left the matter for IFA to decide.

''We have given our details to IFA and they will take a decision,'' a senior official of the club said.

If no response comes from the club, the matter will be referred to the Players' Registration Committee and Players' Status Committee, which might refer it to the Disciplinary Committee and finally to the Governing Body of IFA.

According to IFA Secretary Subrata Dutta, ''The earliest the Players' Committee could call session was in the first week of July'' Which means they will not be able to participate in the major part of Premier Soccer League. And If the players and Mohammedan Sporting find IFA's decision unsatisfactory they can move for arbitration making it an unending scenario.

Mohammedan's Sultan Ahmed said, ''Let's see what decision is made by IFA. After that we will decide.'' Club president and renowned journalist M J Akbar has already appealed before the IFA for a fair judgement. Mr Dutta is also trying to settle the issue between the two clubs so that their future is not affected.

But to make matters worse, Suresh claimed money has been deducted from his salary on disciplinary grounds. East Bengal officials said, ''The decision was taken based on a written report of Subhas Bhowmik who was the then coach of this club. Since he is now the coach of Mohammedan Sporting, Suresh could verify.'' UNI BA SJC PM RK1245