IFA secretary lashes out at Bob Houghton

Kolkata, Jul 8 (UNI) Indian Football Association (IFA) secretary Utpal Kumar Ganguly today came down heavily on Bob Houghton, saying the foreign managers always resorted to excuses to cover up their failures.

'' Houghton's remarks that the IFA is responsible for degradation of Indian football standard are completely unfounded, '' Ganguly told a news conference.

Bob Houghton was the chief coach of senior India soccer team.

Few days after India's 0-1 loss to Maldivies in SAFF football final in Male last month, newspapers reports quoted the English coach as saying the IFA, Bengal's supreme soccer body, was much to be blamed for the present standard of football.

Ganguly said he had written to All India Football Federation, India's top soccer body, to intervene and restrain individual from passing such comment on a state body.

He said the coaches, especially foreigners, find a ready excuse whenever their capability of coaching comes to question.

Ganguly's remarks came within a span of four days after AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said he would talk to Houghton and warned that none should overstep their juridictions as trespassing would not help improve soccer standard of the country.

Ganguly said, '' The IFA runs under the directions and schedules of the AIFF, and Houghton has no right to interfere into a state body's function. '' UNI PC SJC RAR AS1810