New Delhi:
The suspension row between Bhaichung Bhutia and Mohun Bagan drags on with both the sides submitting written replies to the previous hearing's arguments in front of the AIFF-appointed arbitrator here on Wednesday.
The written replies of the counsels of both the parties on the two issues - Bhutia's plea for interim relief and the Kolkata club's contention that it was not an arbitration process - before former Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan were completed.
Sharan said he might give a judgment this weekend or early next week.
Sharan was appointed as arbitrator on September 3 and he issued notices to Mohun Bagan and Bhutia two days later.
During the hearings till today, Bhutia had moved an application pleading for granting an interim relief so that he can play for East Bengal while Mohun Bagan had contended that the proceedings before Sharan was a conciliatory process and not arbitration.
Bhutia was suspended for six months without pay by Mohun Bagan in June for missing a few team training sessions and an exhibition match.
Bhutia 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 member refused to give his opinion.
The AIFF then asked its outgoing General Secretary Alberto Colaco to mediate between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia.
After Colaco could not find a solution, the AIFF Executive Committee in its meeting on August 30 had decided to refer the matter to an arbitrator.
The written replies of the counsels of both the parties on the two issues - Bhutia's plea for interim relief and the Kolkata club's contention that it was not an arbitration process - before former Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan were completed.
Sharan said he might give a judgment this weekend or early next week.
Sharan was appointed as arbitrator on September 3 and he issued notices to Mohun Bagan and Bhutia two days later.
During the hearings till today, Bhutia had moved an application pleading for granting an interim relief so that he can play for East Bengal while Mohun Bagan had contended that the proceedings before Sharan was a conciliatory process and not arbitration.
Bhutia was suspended for six months without pay by Mohun Bagan in June for missing a few team training sessions and an exhibition match.
Bhutia 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 member refused to give his opinion.
The AIFF then asked its outgoing General Secretary Alberto Colaco to mediate between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia.
After Colaco could not find 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
