Indian state-based All Manipur Football Association has rejected the resignation of its president, A Santoshkumar Singh, tendered because of last year’s controversial Santosh Trophy quarterfinal match between Manipur and Goa. Santoshkumar had earlier threatened the national All India Football Federation that he would resign from the state body if the federation failed to take action against referee Saji Kurien who officiated in the controversial match.
Goa defeated Manipur following an alleged wrong decision taken by the referee and Manipur protested and demanded action against the referee. After the AIFF failed to take action against the referee, Santoshkumar tendered his resignation on 31 January from the state body, Telegraph India reported.
The executive committee of the AMFA rejected the resignation on the grounds that the AIFF has started taking action against the referee. AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, in a letter, informed the AMFA that the federation has decided not to use Kurien in any National Football League match "until further orders".
Goa defeated Manipur following an alleged wrong decision taken by the referee and Manipur protested and demanded action against the referee. After the AIFF failed to take action against the referee, Santoshkumar tendered his resignation on 31 January from the state body, Telegraph India reported.
The executive committee of the AMFA rejected the resignation on the grounds that the AIFF has started taking action against the referee. AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, in a letter, informed the AMFA that the federation has decided not to use Kurien in any National Football League match "until further orders".