GFA serves notice to former FIFA referee Benjamin Silva

Margao: The Goa Football Association (GFA) has sought an explanation from former FIFA referee Benjamin Silva and his namesake, who is an executive committee member of the GCA, for alleged "cheating and impersonation".

Silva has been accused of "cheating and impersonating" to prolong his international refereeing career, GCA secretary Alberto Colaco told reporters. The executive committee member has also been held responsible since, according to a complaint by former GFA secretary Savio Messias, the referee could not have used the birth and school leaving certificate of Benjamin (the EC member) without his consent and knowledge.The duo has been given 10 days to file replies. Messias, in his complaint to the GFA, stated that the referee`s original birth certificate shows his date of birth as 8-12-1961. The document, alleged to be the birth certificate of the executive committee member, he submitted for a passport states his birth date as 31-1-1966.Both Benjamins hail from the same village in South Goa. PTI