‘Jokers!’ Referees under fire in India’s ISL

NEW DELHI: A push by the Indian Super League to develop home- grown referees has got off to an uneasy start, with a string of angry exchanges triggering sanctions against nearly half of the league’s coaches.

Over six weeks, four of the ISL’s 10 coaches have been punished for their treatment of referees, forcing the Indian federation to rush to the officials’ defence.

In the first three ISL seasons, 50 percent of match officials were from abroad, but Indian referees now dominate as part of a drive by the All India Football Federation to nurture domestic talent.

Foreign former stars are also much less visible under a new rule which states that each team must have at least six Indian players on the pitch at all times.

This season, referees have been at the centre of attention, with decisions on penalties, red cards and free kicks often drawing a heated response.

Former England midfielder John Gregory, in charge at Chennaiyin FC, was banned for three matches and fined US$ 6,300 for offensive remarks over a penalty.

Mumbai City assistant coach Juliano Fontana served a fourmatch ban and was ordered to pay US$ 11,000 for pushing a referee after his side’s draw against Pune City.

Pune coach Ranko Popovic, the former Serbian defender, was in turn handed a four- match ban and slapped with a 7,800 fine for calling referees “jokers” after his team’s controversy-laden win over FC Goa in December.