NorthEast United write letter complaining about conduct about Dimas Delgado

The Highlanders have also voiced regret about the behavior of a number of Bengaluru FC staff.

NorthEast United assistant team manager Jasmeet Gill has written a letter of complaint against Bengaluru FC's assistant team manager Gerard Zaragoza, team analyst Alwin and midfielder Dimas Delgado. The letter accuses the aforementioned of using abusive language and physically assaulting NorthEast's player of Indian descent, Nikhil Kadam and the Highlanders' assistant coach Shaun Ontong.

The incident took place shortly after the playoff first leg game between NorthEast United and Bengaluru FC concluded. The fixture ended on a sour note for the Blues as a controversial penalty was awarded to the Highlanders after Harmanjot Khabra brought Juan Mascia down in the box during a set-piece.

The penalty was converted successfully by Mascia, getting his team an advantage going into the second leg.

Copy of the complaint

(*The text has been highlighted to make it readable)

The Blues, disappointed and frustrated with the result, were involved in a skirmish, with Delgado and assistant team manager Zaragoza being the main protagonists. The two have now been reported by the NorthEast assistant team manager for using racial and abusive slurs against Kadam for his Indian ethnicity.

Gill's complaint also makes mention of a physical assault from the Bengaluru staff and players on NorthEast United players. The letter refers to the incident and the assault as a breach of the code of conduct of the Indian Super League (ISL).

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The letter has been addressed to the League Secretary and the Match commissioner of the game and if any action is taken on the same by the officials, the participation of the accused persons in the second leg will be in question.

As it happened, the issues at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium were resolved. A source close to NorthEast United claims that it was down to mutual understanding to put the issues behind. Yet the Highlanders have put in an official complaint regarding the same.

The second leg is to be played in The Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Monday.