Apologies for the Blasters

Kochi: Kerala Blasters FC has apologized for withdrawing the team without completing the Indian Super League football knockout match. The team management publicly apologized yesterday.

The apology is believed to be a move to prevent the fine announced by the All India Football Federation’s disciplinary committee from increasing.

The decision to withdraw the team without completing the match against Bengaluru on March 3 is considered immature and unfortunate. Such a decision was a result of competitive pressure. In the press release, Blasters also promised the football world that necessary measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future. Coach Ivan Vukumanovic withdrew his team and left the stadium in protest against the referee’s decision.

Against this, the All India Football Federation banned Vukumanovic from 10 matches and fined the club four crore rupees. The disciplinary committee had also made it clear that if the club and the coach did not publicly apologize for abandoning the game, they would have to pay another two crore rupees as fine.