Panaji: FC Goa coach Manolo Marquez has been handed a one match ban for violating the AIFF’s disciplinary code and “bringing the game into disrepute.” Manolo was charged after Goa’s clash against Jamshedpur FC, a game his side lost 2-0 at the JRD Tata sports complex in Jamshedpur. The experienced Spanish coach was furious after the game and said “it’s very difficult to improve the level of the referees” after Senthil Nathan showed only a yellow card to Pratik Chaudhari, despite, in the eyes of the coach, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to Muhammed Nemil in the 12th minute. He also accused the referee of not allowing his side to cross the halfway line as they were constantly booked. “The coach is suspended for two matches, along with a fine of Rs 40,000. However, the implementation of one match of the two) issued shall remain suspended for a probationary period, until the conclusion of the season (May 31). If the defendant commits another infringement within the said probationary period, the suspension is automatically revoked, and the sanction applied; and the same shall be added to the sanction pronounced for the new infringement,” the AIFF disciplinary committee said in its order on Thursday. In his report, match commissioner Arunava Bhattacharya said Manolo’s behaviour “was aggressive and unexpected from him, while also making “some derogatory remarks during his post-match press conference.” Manolo will now be in the stands for Goa’s clash against Mohun Bagan SG on Saturday. Assistant coach Gouramangi Singh has been assigned pre-match media duties. Now into his sixth season in India, Manolo has been critical of the All India Football Federation for conducting the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) in a haphazard manner. After the clash against Jamshedpur, he lashed out at the organisers for censoring his criticism of the “disastrous league” during his pre-match media interaction. “This is (acting) like a dictator,” he said.
