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ISL 2018: FC Pune City coach Ranko Popovic suspended for third breach ahead of BFC game

ISL 2018: FC Pune City coach Ranko Popovic was suspended with immediate effect for his comments on the standard of refereeing in the Indian Super League.

Ranko Popovic, the FC Pune City coach, was handed the suspension for his comments about referees before Pune's ISL semi-final against Bengaluru FC (Image: ISL Media)

Bengaluru, March 9: The All India Football Federation disciplinary committee on Friday (March 9) banned FC Pune City coach Ranko Popovic with immediate effect ahead of Sunday's crucial Indian Super League semifinal second leg against Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Popovic expressed his displeasure over the standard of the refereeing in the ISL a day before the first leg in Pune. It was his third offence and he's expected to turn up for a hearing in Delhi on March 16. If FC Pune City make the ISL final, they will have to makedo without Popovic as it's scheduled to be held on March 17 in Bengaluru.

Fined Rs 5 lakhFined Rs 5 lakh

Speaking before the ISL semifinal first leg against Bengaluru FC, Popovic asked referees to respect his players.

"Some decisions, one is a penalty in a game and is not in another. I try to control my emotions but you have never seen 5-6 Pune City players surround the referee and try to push him. We respect them more than any other team," he said.

"I have 40 years of experience in football and I don't even know if the referees are even 40 years old. I'm asking for a little bit more respect. They are human beings, they make mistakes but if they want to be better they need to sometimes hear what we say because from that they can learn.

"This is an experience too. They have never played football and have never felt football the same way we have. Also, they have one other job, we don't have a reserve job. I have only one job and I tell my boys that he cannot lose his job because of my mistake. I can lose my job because of his mistake. If they understand this, they will have a little bit more respect."

Popovic's hand in Pune's brilliant runPopovic's hand in Pune's brilliant run

The AIFF displinary committee took a dim view of the comments. Displinary committee chairman Ushanath Banerjee, in a communication to the club, stated: "Having considered the utterances against the decisions of the Referee and the Match Officials, it prima facie appears that Mr. Ranko Popovic has breached the Disciplinary Code and the Law of Game with impunity amounting to gross misconduct.

"On earlier occasion, Mr. Popovic was held guilty of abusing and insulting Match Officials and was imposed with sanctions. Even thereafter, he continued with his obdurate acts resulting warning. The instant subject matters are thus 3rd instance of breach. Accordingly, issue Show Cause Notice for repeat breaches and he is to reply within 9/3/2018 and appear for hearing before the Committee on 16th March 2018 at Football House, Delhi. In the meanwhile pending final decision of the Committee, Mr Ranko Popovic to remain suspended under Article 21 and 22 of the Code."

Popovic had earlier called the referees jokers after a player from his team was fouled during the December 23, 2017 game against FC Goa.

"If you want to talk about how many fouls they made in the game; in two games we got (players) sent off for nothing. Today what is this, rugby? Who was the referee (Rowan Arumughan) protecting? Are there different rules for Pune City?''

For that breach, Popovic was banned for four games and fined Rs 5 lakh.

In February, he singled out referee Pranjal Banerjee as denying his team three penalties during a game against Kerala Blasters.

In June 2017, Popovic was banned for three months for slapping a physiotherapist in the Thai League.

Story first published: Friday, March 9, 2018, 14:59 [IST]
Other articles published on Mar 9, 2018