AIFF's disciplinary committee suspend Kerala Blasters' Naocha Singh

Naocha Singh will not be able to participate in the playoffs.

Kerala Blasters FC have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their season-defining 2023-24 Indian Super League playoff fixture against Odisha FC. Their defender Naocha Singh has been suspended for three matches by the AIFF disciplinary committee for a headbutt incident during the fixture against East Bengal FC.

Furthermore, he has been fined Rs 20,000 by the governing body’s disciplinary committee. The suspension will keep him out of Kerala Blasters FC’s knockout game against the Kalinga Warriors. Losing Naocha Singh to suspension comes as a definite setback for Ivan Vukomanovic’s men who have been suffering with injuries throughout the season as well.

The headbutt incident

Kerala Blasters FC played host to East Bengal FC on 3 April 2024 which eventually became a day to forget for the club. The outfit lost the game by a 2-4 scoreline and two of their players were sent off, namely Jeakson Singh and Naocha Singh, making it extremely difficult to compete against the Red & Gold Brigade, motivated to secure three points.

Defender Naocha Singh was shown a direct red card for an incident during the 74th minute of the match by the referee. It reduced the Yellow Army to ten men after Jeakson Singh’s second yellow on the brink of halftime. Upon investigation, the AIFF disciplinary committee handed a three-match suspension to Singh which sidelines him for the rest of the season.

Kerala Blasters FC has been adjusting to the myriad of injuries and playing individuals in unnatural positions as a consequence. Losing Noacha Singh, who has played 16 crucial matches in the league for the side, comes as an additional headache for the tactician who must think of a solution in the back-four against an Odisha FC side that believes in playing an attacking brand of football.

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