ISL 2017/18: Suspended Chennaiyin FC and FC Pune City coaches sit like best friends in the stands
What's the story?
Football is all about enjoying a game with the right attitude. Along the way, one might love a laugh or two and add some banter to the mix. But seldom does one see a scene quite like this one.
After being banned for misconduct, John Gregory and Ranko Popovich, the coaches of Chennaiyin FC and FC Pune City respectively, were given touchline bans. The two managers faced off against each other in the Indian Super League (ISL) tonight, but by looking at the photos coming in from Chennai, you won't be able to tell that their teams were competing.
In case you didn't know...
Chennaiyin FC managed to beat FC Pune City by the margin of one goal and climbed to the top of the table for the time being.
The heart of the matter
The match between Chennaiyin FC and FC Pune City may have been a big showdown, but the camaraderie between the two coaches of the respective clubs has really caught the eye of audiences around the world and for all good reasons.
Looking down from the stands, these photos clearly show that the two head coaches enjoyed watching the game from a distance which they are not used to.
What's next?
Chennaiyin may have won the match which raised the mercury at times but in the end this beautiful act by the coaches will remain intact in the memories of the ISL fans.
Author's take
In this day and age when each point in the game of football is so vital that coaches often get involved in heated altercations at the touchline. However, these pictures prove that sometimes football should only be about camaraderie and friendship.