Kerala Blasters boss Ivan Vukomanovic faces one-match ban over comments against referees

Ivan Vukomanovic recently served a long-term suspension and has been suspended again!

Kerala Blasters FC head coach, Ivan Vukomanović, has been slapped with a one-match ban and fined Rs. 50,000 by the AIFF disciplinary committee following his outspoken comments against the referees in a post-match press conference on November 29th. The comments were made after the match against Chennaiyin FC, where Vukomanović expressed his frustration with the refereeing decisions.

Post-match Outburst Leads to Ban and Fine

In the press conference, Vukomanović didn’t hold back, citing incidents involving offside positions and perceived inaction from match officials. He highlighted early goals conceded in the first minute and expressed dissatisfaction with the referees’ handling of these situations.

The Statement that Triggered the Action

“You know, it’s like having a season ticket, conceding goals against Chennaiyin in the first minute, as we did last year. The funny thing is, it happened in front of the bench. No foul, then offside at the goal, a player influencing our goalkeeper in an offside position. Referees don’t react in the first minute,” he lamented.

He further elaborated on specific instances, including a clear foul on one of his players, Hormipam Ruivah, during the match, emphasizing his disbelief at the officials’ inability to spot such infringements. Vukomanović expressed his frustration, stating, “Watching the videos, you wonder how they can’t see that. Offside positions, late linesmen- it’s frustrating. We aim to stay positive, but these referees couldn’t lead or manage the game.”

Ivan Vukomanović’s frustration extended beyond specific decisions, as he criticized the overall performance of the referees, expressing disbelief at their failure to recognize clear fouls and offside positions. He attributed the issues not to the referees themselves but to the education system responsible for their training.

“It’s not their fault; it’s the fault of those educating them. It’s the third year, and I see this year’s outcomes won’t be decided by teams or players, but by referees. Our system, technologies – we’ll deal with it. When the game starts like that, referees lose control, and everyone gets frustrated for many different situations,” he added.

Suspension Impacts Presence on Sidelines

As a consequence of these remarks, Ivan Vukomanović will serve a one-match suspension, keeping him away from the sidelines in the upcoming ISL 2023-24 match against Punjab on 14th December. The AIFF disciplinary committee emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum in public statements and holding coaches accountable for their comments against match officials.

Vukomanović’s bold statements serve as a reminder of the intense emotions and pressures within the realm of football, shedding light on the contentious relationship between coaches, teams, and match officials. Vukomanović’s suspension puts a spotlight on the broader issue of refereeing standards, leaving fans and pundits alike to ponder the impact of such controversies on the beautiful game.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.