Bagan coach accuses AIFF secretary of conspiracy

Despite looking a relieved man after his side escaped relegation from the National Football League by a hair's breadth, Mohun Bagan coach Amal Dutta accused All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco of conspiring with the referees to save Churchill Brothers from relegation.

Speaking to newspersons minutes after Bagan drew 1-1 with Churchill, who were demoted to the Second Division, Dutta claimed that Marcos Pereira's goal for the Goans was scored from an off-side position.

"It was a clear case of off-side. And I feel it is a result of the conspiracy by Colaco in collusion with the referees in his desperate bid to save Churchill from relegation," the veteran coach said.

When pointed out that Match Referee Ravi Chandran was from Malaysia, Dutta said, "It does not matter whether the referee is from India or Malyasia. It seems he was under instruction from Colaco to be friendly-disposed towards Churchill."

Dutta, however, expressed a sigh of relief at Bagan escaping relegation.

"Like a messiah, I have saved Bagan from relegation," he said.