Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters have announced that they will temporarily shutdown their women's team.
The club cited the financial sanctions imposed on them by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the reason for temporarily bringing a pause on their women's team.
Club Statement. #KBFC #KeralaBlasters
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) June 6, 2023
In a statement released by the club, they informed,
It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the temporary pause of our Women’s Team. This decision has been necessitated by the recent financial sanctions imposed on our club by the football federation. While we respect the authority and decisions of the federation, we cannot deny our disappointment at the impact it is likely to have across various functions of our Club.
After a very encouraging first season that saw our women’s team achieve tremendous results, this year the Club had plans for increased investments for our women’s team. These investments included a first-of-a-kind foreign pre-season tour accompanying our Men’s Team, player exchanges, exposure tours, and so much more. However, the financial sanctions have presented us with an unfortunate challenge. As a Club, we must prioritize the more immediate objectives and long-term financial stability.
We deeply regret that we cannot continue our women’s team activities until such time that there is complete clarity on the matter. The decision to pause their activities was made after careful consideration and evaluation of the current circumstances. Not to mention, the Club is still awaiting further sanctions from the league body as well that are only likely to augment the financial impact on the Club.
It is important to highlight that this pause is temporary. We will reinstate our Women’s Team upon closure of this matter in its entirety.
To our incredible women’s team members, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the dedication, resilience, and talent you have displayed throughout your time with us. You have been an inspiration to us all, and we are committed to supporting you individually in any way we can during this pause.
To our loyal supporters, we understand your disappointment, and we share your frustration. Your unwavering support for our women’s team has been phenomenal, and we assure you that we will be back.
We firmly believe that the future holds brighter prospects for our women’s team. The pause we are currently facing is just a temporary setback, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering equality, inclusivity, and opportunities for all athletes.
Thank you for your understanding, and we appreciate your continued support during these challenging times.
Why did AIFF impose financial sanctions on Kerala Blasters?
During the ISL 2022-23 playoff between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters on March 3, a contentious incident took place involving Sunil Chhetri's free-kick goal during extra time.
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Upon the instruction from coach Ivan Vukomanovic, Kerala Blasters walked off the field, asserting that Chhetri's winning strike from the free-kick was not "legitimate" as referee Crystal John did not blow the whistle before the Blues skipper took the kick.
Despite protests from Kerala Blasters, Bengaluru FC were ultimately declared the winners of the match with a 1-0 scoreline.
AIFF later imposed a fine of INR 4 crores on the club and INR 5 lakhs on manager Ivan Vukomanovic. The manager was additionally handed a 10-match suspension.
READ: AIFF rejects KBFC's appeal
Blasters had appealed for leniency and asked the fine to be reduced to the minimum amount for abandoning the match. Whereas, in the case of Vukomanovic, they requested that the fine and the ban be removed entirely.
However, the Appeal Committee stuck to the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and put out a statement that read: "...the appeal of the appellant team is denied and that Kerala Blasters FC is instructed to pay the fine of Rs 4 crore imposed by the Disciplinary Committee.”
