Two-match bans for East Bengal’s Uga Okpara and Prayag United’s Bello Rasaq

East Bengal defender Uga Okpara and Prayag United defender Bello Rasaq have been given two-match bans for their involvement in a scuffle last Sunday after Prayag’s 1-0 in the I-League. The two clubs have also been handed a fine of Rs 5000 each and the suspension for the two players will come into effect from round 12 this weekend.

The Nigerians had heated arguments during the game and when Bello went to shake Okpara’s hand after the game, the East Bengal player attacked him and nearly came to blows with his compatriot.

Players from both teams were trying to separate the two players, but while Bello was seen running back into the dressing room with a minor cut, Okpara continued to show his anger before being finally calmed down by his teammates.

It remains to be seen whether either club decide to appeal the ban or fine, but Prayag United club director Nabab Bhattacharya feels the ban for Bello and his club is unacceptable.

“If Bello gets a two-match ban, Okpara should be banned for six months. My players suffered blows while trying to calm down the situation and yet we get fined also,” Bhattacharya told Sportskeeda.

Kalyani to host matches

In another decision by the I-League committee, it was decided that the home matches of the Kolkata clubs between December 29 and January 5 will be held at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani, a town on the outskirts of Kolkata, as the Salt Lake Stadium will remain unavailable during that period.

It was also confirmed that the round 12 match between Mohun Bagan and United Sikkim, scheduled for December 23, has been postponed for now, as the independent one-man committee of retired Judge AK Ganguly is yet to give his evaluation about events surrounding the big Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.