A day after India footballer CK Vineeth lost his job at the Accountant General’s office due to lack of attendance, Sports Minister Vijay Goel offered to help the player.

Goel hinted at pushing for changing the rules in the sports quota if they prove to be a hindrance for the players. Because of his busy training schedule and matches, Vineeth had been unable to attend his office regularly due to which his probation had not been extended.

In a statement, Goel stated that he would a change of rules are on the cards if they are not in favour of the players: “Rules must be in favour of players. If rules are a hindrance, we might change the rules because they are dedicated to the passion of sports.

“A player has to play continuously and hence is unable to meet the mandatory guideline. I will speak to Kerala Chief Minister and Comptroller and Auditor General office in New Delhi to seek their intervention to accommodate this player and change the rules. I shall monitor such cases.”

The decision to fire Vineeth had drawn criticism from various quarters in Kerala. Their Industries minister AC Moideen and opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala had written to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to reconsider the decision to terminate his service, but to no avail.

“Any action against Vineeth will send a bad message to budding Indian young talents that government is turning hostile to promising youngsters,” Moideen was quoted as saying by PTI.

Vineeth said he was yet to receive the order of his termination, “I got this job through football. For me more than the job, my game is important,” he said.