'Wanted to show Elano that we Goans are not cowards'

FC Goa’s co-owner Dattaraj says 'Elano's ungentlemanly behaviour forced me to file FIR'

FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar said, that Chennaiyin FC captain Elano Blumer's "ungentlemanly behaviour" forced him to lodge complain with the Goa Police instead of referring the matter to the Indian Super League’s disciplinary committee.

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The victory celebrations for ISL champions Chennaiyin FC turned sour on Sunday as their marquee player Brazilian Elano was arrested by local police for allegedly assaulting FC Goa

co-owner Dattaraj. The Brazilian was later released on bail.

Addressing the media, on Monday, Dattaraj said he along with Srinivas Dempo went to the dug-out of his team to congratulate his players when Elano came out from nowhere and started making fun of his players.

"When I questioned him, he (Elano) assaulted me without any reason," Dattaraj said.

Asked why he did not report the matter to the ISL disciplinary committee, Dattaraj said: "Had Elano apologised to me or the referee red-carded him, we would not have reported the matter to the police. Since these things did not happen, we wanted to show the Brazilian that we Goans are not cowards and went ahead and reported the matter to the police. If the ISL disciplinary committee takes action against us, we are prepared to reply to them," stated Dattaraj.

Srinivas Dempo also said that he too was manhandled at the entrance of the ground by the bouncers but he could understand that there were chaos and they could not identify the dignitaries.

"It could have been better if we have been escorted by someone, these things did not happen. But what happened to Dattaraj Salgaocar needed to be punished. If the ISL committee wants to take action against us we are ready to face it," Dempo said.

Both co-owners, Dempo and Dattaraj, along with coach Zico, thanked the fans for their full support.

"Our team played well in the final but we lost. Last year we reached the semi-finals and this year we reach the finals but lost. Next year we will try to win the title," stated Dempo.

Chennaiyin FC beat FC Goa 3-2 in a high-octane final on Sunday to win the second edition of Indian Super League.

Image: Elano Blumer

Photograph: Chennaiyin FC