AIFF's stand-off with Goan clubs takes ugly turn as Kushal Das asks Sporting Clube to 'wake up'

The war of words between Sporting Clube de Goa and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) just escalated as AIFF’s secretary Kushal Das responded to Sporting Clube de Goa CEO Victor Fernandes’ statement on Saturday calling Das an ‘embarrassment’ and demanding an apology from him for his ‘shocking comments’.

Kushal Das spoke to Scroll.in, responding to Fernandes’ statement and asked Sporting to get their fan attendance in order first. “What Sporting Club de Goa says about me or AIFF is irrelevant. A team which could not get 500 fans for their Federation Cup home semifinal last year should wake up and smell the coffee,” Das said.

In an explosive press release issued on Saturday, Fernandes threw barbs at Das and the AIFF management for its ‘ignorance’ and blamed him and president Praful Patel for dwindling numbers at football stadiums in Goa.

With both parties blaming each other for the poor turnout at games, it seems pertinent to raise the question: Is getting fans the key criterion? If so, should both parties not be held responsible, as organiser and participant?

“In an interview to a news agency and other media channels, Das said ‘FC Bardez have a bigger fan following than these clubs. I have seen them in the Goa Pro League.’ Kushal Das is really cut-off from reality,” the statement from Fernandes read.

“To say that a four-month old club has more fan following than us is ridiculous and a huge insult to the contribution of clubs like Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa, who have contributed immensely to the development of Indian football,” he added.

The war looks to intensify for now as all Goan clubs have currently pulled out of the I-League clubs and FC Bardez, who applied for entry this year were turned down.

Fernandes said, “For the ignorant Kushal Das’ knowledge, until some years ago, both clubs attracted massive crowd wherever it played. The Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, saw big attendances but since Praful Patel took over as president and Kushal Das was appointed secretary, the numbers have dwindled.”

Fernandes stated that Indian football is at its lowest ebb adding that an ‘ill-informed’ Das was not helping its case.

“It is clear that Kushal Das, who is occupying a wrong chair, has no clue about football in India and his comments reflect the deplorable state of AIFF at the moment. Kushal Das is an embarrassment for Indian football. He must apologise for his comments which are shocking and uncalled for.”