New Delhi: The All India Football Federation Disciplinary Committee on Saturday provisionally withdrew the suspension imposed on FC Pune City coach Ranko Popovic.
Popovic’s suspension which was announced just a day ago was surprisingly withdrawn within the next 24 hours, with a reasoning that it was done to promote fair-play.
Ushanath Banerjee, Chairman, Disciplinary Committee in a revised interim decision said, “…in the interest of fair play and in particular forthcoming semi-final match of FC Pune City, the interim suspension imposed upon Mr. Popovic is provisionally withdrawn subject to FC Pune City providing in writing an undertaking that there would be not an iota of indiscipline on the part of Mr. Popovic nor there would be any scope of complain against him till final adjudication of the subject issue following hearing on 16/3/2018.”
The decision meant that the Pune City coach now will can stand on the technical line for the second leg of their semi-final match against Bengaluru FC on 11th March 2018 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.
Just a day ago the same disciplinary committee had taken a stern decision against g Serbian for repeatedly speaking and making comments on the referees and match officials.
Popovic had earlier faced the axe after taking a dig at the referee following his team’s 2-0 win over FC Goa on December 23, 2017.
Most recently, the Serb had asked the referees to show him some respect. “”I have an experience of 40 years in football. I played my first professional game when I was just eleven years old. I don’t know if referees are even 40 years old,” he had said.