New Delhi: The suspension of Mahesh Gawli and
Samir Naik for missing the national camp may snowball into a
controversy with the senior Indian players today describing it
as a "disgraceful and unjustified decision" by the AIFF.
The national team players for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup have
shot a letter, signed by all of them, to the AIFF President
Praful Patel in protest against the suspension of the two
players, who were nursing injuries and on the direction of
their Club -- Dempo -- did not attend the camp.
"Both players were keen and committed to join the
national camp at Goa but were denied permission by their club.
The national team players expressed shock and distress at the
disgraceful and unjustified decision against both these senior
players who have each served the country with utmost sincerity
and commitment for over a decade," a release posted at the
website of the Football Players' Association of India said.
"The AIFF's decision does not address root issues with
clubs and simply makes easy targets of the players," it added.
Gawli and Naik were suspended by the AIFF after its
emergency committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday for not
attending the national camp after the federation had written
Dempo to release them to be treated by Indian team doctors.
The national team-mates of Gawli and Naik said the
suspension of the two players would set a wrong precedent.
"We have requested Patel to look into the matter and
trust he would deliver a just decision that would not send the
wrong message to the players," the players said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 01, 2009, 20:24