New Delhi:
Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra on Tuesday said India Football Federation was playing games in the Bhaichung Bhutia suspension row and last month's AIFF executive committee meeting had not decided to refer the matter to the arbitrator.
"The AIFF executive committee meeting on August 30 took the decision that a legal opinion will be taken in the Bhaichung matter. Ask any member of the executive committee whether they had decided to refer the matter to the arbitrator," Mitra said here.
"There was no option to refer the matter to the arbitrator. A decision on the issue has already be taken by the AIFF and they are just acting by referring the matter to the arbitrator. They (AIFF) have already pre-fixed a decision," he said after his side's 1-3 loss to Chuchill Brothers in the Durand Cup final at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Mitra had been saying that AIFF had not exhausted all other means before referring the matter to former additional solicitor general Amarendra Sharan and Bhutia had been given "special treatment"
The club had argued that the proceedings before Sharan was a conciliatory process and not an arbitration.
Asked about what Mohun Bagan will do if the decision by Sharan goes against the club, Mitra said, "Let the decision comes first and then we will see."
Bhutia was suspended for six months without pay by Mohun Bagan in June for missing a few team training sessions and an exhibition match.
He appealed to the Indian Football Association (West Bengal football body) but later the AIFF took up the matter.
The national body's Players' Status Committee, however, failed to decide on the matter as one of the members refused to give his opinion.
The AIFF then asked its outgoing General Secretary Alberto Colaco to mediate between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia.
After Colaco failed to come out with a solution, the AIFF Executive Committee in its meeting on August 30 had decided to refer the matter to an arbitrator.
"The AIFF executive committee meeting on August 30 took the decision that a legal opinion will be taken in the Bhaichung matter. Ask any member of the executive committee whether they had decided to refer the matter to the arbitrator," Mitra said here.
"There was no option to refer the matter to the arbitrator. A decision on the issue has already be taken by the AIFF and they are just acting by referring the matter to the arbitrator. They (AIFF) have already pre-fixed a decision," he said after his side's 1-3 loss to Chuchill Brothers in the Durand Cup final at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Mitra had been saying that AIFF had not exhausted all other means before referring the matter to former additional solicitor general Amarendra Sharan and Bhutia had been given "special treatment"
The club had argued that the proceedings before Sharan was a conciliatory process and not an arbitration.
Asked about what Mohun Bagan will do if the decision by Sharan goes against the club, Mitra said, "Let the decision comes first and then we will see."
Bhutia was suspended for six months without pay by Mohun Bagan in June for missing a few team training sessions and an exhibition match.
He appealed to the Indian Football Association (West Bengal football body) but later the AIFF took up the matter.
The national body's Players' Status Committee, however, failed to decide on the matter as one of the members refused to give his opinion.
The AIFF then asked its outgoing General Secretary Alberto Colaco to mediate between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia.
After Colaco failed to come out with a solution, the AIFF Executive Committee in its meeting on August 30 had decided to refer the matter to an arbitrator.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
