Bagan to pay up FIFA fine

Mohun Bagan club, acting as per the advice of the All India Football Federation, said it will pay the 11,000 dollars fine imposed by world soccer governing body FIFA for failing to clear the dues of Nigerian recruit Isa Musah last year.

"We will definitely pay up the fine, which is actually the amount due to be cleared to the player. We will call an executive council meeting soon to decide on the matter," Bagan assistant secretary Balaram Chowdhury said in Kolkata on Monday.

Chowdhury said: "I will ask the club secretary to convene a meeting and urge him to place relevant documents along with last year's accounts while deciding on the issue."

This, however, may lead to another round of controversy as Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra has maintained that Musah had been suspended for six months on grounds of "indiscipline" and that he will appeal before the FIFA for withdrawal of the punishment.

But, payment of the fine, as suggested by AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, is crucial for the club in view of the ban imposed by FIFA on fresh recruitment of any foreign player till April, 2004.

"I have advised that the club pay up the fine before making any appeal for withdrawal of the punishment," Dasmunshi said on Sunday.

Musah had moved the FIFA earler this year claiming that Bagan had failed to pay his contractual dues. Subsequently FIFA opened a case on the issue and sought clarification from the club.