Kerala Blasters’ walkout appeal fails: Rs 4 crore fine remains intact

Kerala Blasters FC‘s efforts to overturn their penalty in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have been unsuccessful, necessitating the club to compensate the AIFF with Rs 4 crore due to their exit from a match against Bengaluru FC in the previous season of the Indian Super League.

Within the next two weeks, the Blasters will be mandated to settle the fine and cover the legal costs borne by the AIFF during the lawsuit.

Kerala Blasters contended that imposing such a severe penalty was unjustified since AIFF regulations prohibit any interaction between the club’s management and the team urging a reversal of the boycott decision.

Kerala Blasters lose appeal to CAS over playoff walkout

The situation escalated when referee Crystal John prematurely initiated a free kick, leading to a goal by Sunil Chhetri. Following the goal, Ivan Vukomanovic, the manager of Kerala Blasters, withdrew his team from the field despite attempts by officials to dissuade him, as noted in their report.

Match commissioner Amit Dharap then advised the team manager regarding the potential consequences, yet the team’s stance remained unaltered, resulting in the imposition of a Rs 4 crore fine. This represents a significant financial hit for the club, in spite of their positive results this season.