Mohun Bagan gets relief in Diamondstar case

Kolkata, Dec 23 (IANS) City football giant Mohun Bagan Tuesday said a city court has stayed an ex parte decision by the FIFA directing the club to pay compensation to its Australian recruit Okwy Okonkwo Diamondstar who had alleged nonpayment of salaries.

The court has issued show cause notices to All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the FIFA.

Contracted by Bagan in 2010, Diamondstar had filed a complaint first with the IFA and then with the FIFA alleging that he was not paid his salaries and medical expenses by the club.

“While the Players Status Committee of the IFA dismissed Diamondstar’s complaint in 2011, the FIFA on May 27 passed an unreasonable ex parte decision directing Mohun Bagan to pay Diamondstar compensation with interest to the tune of around Rs.90 lakh,” club’s counsel Ushanath Banerjee said.

With the world body refusing to review its order, the club moved a city civil court contending FIFA had no authority or jurisdiction to take in any complaint and that it had acted illegally and motivated manner in the instant case.

“Not only FIFA had no jurisdiction to pass such an order, it was also illegal for it to decide on a matter that was adjudicated upon by the IFA. Even Diamondstar had not specified in his agreement with the club, that in case of a legal dispute, the parties will approach the FIFA for redressal.

“Upon hearing our agreements, the court has stayed the operation of FIFA’s order till Jan 20 and issued show cause notices to the AIFF and the FIFA asking why can’t the interim order be converted into a final order,” added Banerjee.