New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has upheld its decision to fine Kerala Blasters FC Rs 4 crore for misconduct and abandonment of their Indian Super League (ISL) playoff match against Bengaluru FC. The club’s appeal against the imposed penalty was rejected by the AIFF on Friday.

Furthermore, the appeal made by Kerala Blasters FC’s head coach, Ivan Vukumanovic, against his fine of Rs 5 lakh and a 10-game ban was also dismissed by the committee.

Kerala Blasters FC had sought leniency from the AIFF, urging them to reduce the fine to the minimum amount for abandoning the match. However, the Appeal Committee upheld the earlier rulings of the Disciplinary Committee, stating that the fines must be paid within two weeks.

The controversy arose during the ISL playoff match on March 3, when Kerala Blasters FC left the field claiming that Bengaluru FC’s winning goal, scored by Sunil Chhetri from an extra-time freekick, was not “legitimate.” They argued that the referee had not blown the whistle before Chhetri took the kick, catching their players off guard.

Consequently, Bengaluru FC were declared 1-0 winners and advanced to the ISL semifinals based on their extra-time lead.

In its decision, the Appeal Committee stated, “The appeal of the appellant team is denied, and Kerala Blasters FC is instructed to pay the fine of Rs 4 crore imposed by the Disciplinary Committee.”

Regarding Ivan Vukumanovic’s appeal, the committee stated, “This Committee holds that the appeal of the Appellant Coach is denied, and Ivan Vukumanovic is instructed to pay the fine of Rs 5 lakh and serve the suspension for 10 matches and the ban from being a part of the team dressing room and team bench, irrespective of the team he is contracted with.”

The Appeal Committee further added that any matches already served during the suspension and ban would count towards compliance with the decision.

In its initial ruling on March 31, the Disciplinary Committee had also stated that both the club and the coach must issue public apologies. Failure to do so would result in an increase of the fines to Rs 6 crore and Rs 10 lakh, respectively.

Kerala Blasters FC and Ivan Vukumanovic now have two weeks to fulfill their respective obligations and pay the fines imposed upon them by the AIFF.

Chennai: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Nitish Rana has been fined Rs 24 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This is the second offense of the season for KKR under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offenses. The fine also extends to each member of the Playing XI, including the impact substitute, who will be fined Rs 6 lakh or 25 percent of the match fee, whichever is lesser.

Details: KKR emerged victorious in the match against CSK by six wickets, enhancing their chances of securing a spot in the playoffs. CSK, on the other hand, currently holds the second position in the standings and is expected to finish in the top four.

The IPL media advisory stated that Nitish Rana, as the captain of the team, has been fined Rs 24 lakh for the slow over-rate offense. The fine imposed on Rana and the rest of the Playing XI is a result of it being KKR’s second offense of the season in relation to maintaining the required over-rate.

Implications: Maintaining an appropriate over-rate is a crucial aspect of cricket that ensures the smooth flow of the game and keeps it within the allocated time frame. The IPL’s Code of Conduct includes provisions to penalize teams that fail to maintain the minimum over-rate.

By penalizing the captain and the players, the IPL authorities emphasize the importance of adhering to the established rules. The fine serves as a reminder to teams about the need to complete their overs within the allotted time and helps maintain the overall integrity and pace of the game.

Nitish Rana, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, has been fined Rs 24 lakh for the team’s slow over-rate during their IPL match against Chennai Super Kings. This second offense of the season has resulted in fines for both the captain and each member of the Playing XI. The penalty highlights the significance of maintaining the required over-rate and reinforces the importance of adhering to the IPL’s Code of Conduct.

Suzhou: India’s top shuttlers PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy suffered defeats in their respective matches as India lost to Malaysia 2-3 in their opening encounter of the Sudirman Cup in Hangzhou, China.

In the women’s singles match, Sindhu lost to world number five Soniia Cheah 17-21, 21-17, 19-21 in a thrilling contest that lasted for an hour and eight minutes. Sindhu, who is currently ranked seventh in the world, started off well by winning the first game but could not maintain her momentum in the subsequent games.

On the other hand, Prannoy lost to world number 19 Iskandar Zulkarnain 19-21, 21-18, 18-21 in the men’s singles match. Prannoy started off well by winning the first game but could not hold on to his lead and eventually lost the match in three games.

India’s only win of the day came in the mixed doubles match where the duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa defeated Malaysia’s Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing 21-19, 21-12.

India will next face Germany in their second group stage match on May 16. The Sudirman Cup, also known as the World Mixed Team Championships, is held every two years and features teams from around the world competing against each other in a mixed team format. The Indian team is hoping to improve on their previous performances and make a mark in this edition of the tournament.