IFA plans to send a letter to AIFF on the Tanmoy issue, CRA is likely to decide in an executive committee meeting on 12th August

Indian Football Association (IFA) has planned to send a letter to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to know the truth about Bengal’s national elite referee Tanmoy Dhar’s complaint. 

The 37-year-old referee made a complaint to the Calcutta Referees Association (CRA) as well as to the IFA mentioning that he was not selected in the referees’ panel for the ISL last year due to CRA secretary Udayan Halder’s instigation. 

Tanmoy who was in the referees’ panel for the ISL from 2014 to 2018 made severe complaints against the CRA’s present referee stating that Halder had deprived him of posting in crucial matches in the CFL Premier Division previously. 

Dhar even alleged that Halder manipulated the previous All India Football Federation-run referees’ board members against his posting in the I-League as well as ISL. 

The IFA secretary Anirban Dutta commented on the issue, “We are sending a letter to the AIFF to know the exact reason behind Dhar’s exclusion from the referees' panel for the ISL last season. I also had a talk with CRA secretary Udayan Halder regarding the issue. He revealed that the federation sets ranking following the referees’ performances throughout the year and then makes the panel. Tanmoy Dhar failed to earn the ranking which was required and that is why he was not empaneled for the ISL.” 

Udyan Halder, the alleged CRA secretary also reacting to Dhar’s complaints lashed out and said, "My image has been tarnished. TanmoyDhar must have to establish his complaints by submitting proof that due to my instigation, he was not selected for the panel for the ISL. Why hasn't he sent mail to the AIFF? He should have asked the AIFF."

However, the CRA executive committee has planned to call a meeting on 12th August on the issue. President Bhola Dutta said, "The 22 executive committee members including the secretary will be sitting for a detailed discussion and Tanmoy Dhor will also be summoned to appear at the meeting. We will tr12th August y to take a decision that day.”

Tanmoy seems confident in his allegations. He stated, "How can I make such complaints without having proof? If the committee asks me to submit proof then I will sure do that."

Significantly, the IFA has sent an application to the AIFF to obtain staging rights of the preliminary round matches of the Santosh Trophy which are scheduled to be held at the end of this year. According to Dutta, the coach-selection committee, and the team selection committee will also be formed within the next couple of days to start preparation for the senior national championship this year.