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Robert Pires banned for two matches

After tunnel-bust up, Arsenal legend to miss couple of games *Fikru, Habas also given punished

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After a controversy-free week, dangerous tackles, tunnel-bust ups and a head-butt has threatened to spoil the image of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The FC Goa vs Atletico de Kolkata match on Thursday was in the news for all wrong reasons. The man who scored the first goal in the ISL, ATK's Fikru Tefarra head-butted Goa player Gregory Arnolin, while Goa's marquee player and Arsenal legend Robert Pires had accused ATK's coach, Antonio Habas, of punching him in the face.

With the matter receiving international attention, the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) disciplinary committee met, reviewed the situation and decided to ban Pires for two matches with a fine of Rs 5,00,00 for violation article 58 of the AIFF disciplinary code (offensive behaviour and fair play).

ATK coach Habas is suspended for the next four matches as well as fined Rs 5,00,000 for breach of article 58 of the AIFF disciplinary code.

Fikru, who also was found guilty of violating article 58 of the AIFF disciplinary code, was given a two match ban and fined Rs 5,00,000.

Predipkumar Bhaktawer, the goalkeeper coach of Atletico de Kolkata has been suspended for next one match and fined Rs 30,000 for breach of League Rule 22.2. Video replays showed Bhaktawer enter the field of play and argue with the fourth official regarding refereeing decisions. Despite repeated warnings, Bhaktawer refused to leave the pitch.

All parties to the incident have four days to appeal the ban.

Habas and Pires were reportedly involved in an altercation in the tunnel when the two teams left for the half-time break in that match which was won by Atletico de Kolkata.

At the post-match press conference, FC Goa coach Zico alleged that former France international and Arsenal legend Pires was punched by Kolkata coach Habas during a half-time altercation. "One of our players said that he was beaten by the coach of the other team. Pires said he was punched on the face by the Atletico coach and it is very shameful," Zico had said.

"I am telling you what my players told me and I didn't see that myself but I don't think that Pires will not lie and say something that didn't happen. And when the team entered the field in the second half, they were very nervous and during the half time we were only trying to control their nerves and calm them down," Zico had stated.

The team manager of FC Goa Jonathan D'Sousa had asked the ISL Disciplinary Committee to take strong action against the players and officials of Atletico de Kolkata for their conduct against the Goa outfit. 

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