IFA finds Tolgay guilty of misconduct, imposes huge fine

After weeks of uncertainty, the Indian Football Association (West Bengal) Players’ Status Committee has given its verdict in the Tolgay Ozbey case. The committee found the Australian striker guilty of professional misconduct and he has been asked to pay one month’s salary and a fine of Rs 500,000 (5 lakh) in order to get a formal release from East Bengal Club. The IFA Players’ Status Committee has given both sides 72 hours to respond to the order, otherwise it would be null and void. Both sides will consult lawyers before getting back to the IFA.

The IFA took this decision because they say it is proven that Tolgay first wanted to stay with East Bengal and then signed for archrivals Mohun Bagan, which is the cause for this whole transfer confusion.

To end the matter, Tolgay has been asked to pay one month’s salary (US$ 18,450, last season’s monthly salary) to East Bengal Club via the IFA and send a letter of apology to both his former club and the IFA after which East Bengal will have to return the token.

Further, the IFA will fine Tolgay Ozbey of Rs 500,000 which would go to the IFA players benevolent fund.

East Bengal Club, on their side, have been asked to withdraw the case against the Australian at a Kolkata civil court and return the token to the parent body.

If both sides agree, then Tolgay would be a free players and could then sign for Mohun Bagan; but as this whole story has unfolded, there might be more twists and turns waiting to happen before it finally ends.