Baljit writes to AIFF about alleged Arnolin racist comments

IN A STRANGE DEPARTURE from the regular norms of making disciplinary complaints, Atletico de Kolkata forward Baljit Singh Sahni has sent an email to AIFF on his own, formally informing them of his allegations that FC Goa defender Gregory Arnolin had made racist and derogatory comments aimed at him during their match on 7th October. This, according to Baljit, is what prompted him to lose his cool and head-butt the French defender.

Usually allegations of this kind are communicated to the country's football governing body by the clubs on behalf, but the Kolkata-based ISL franchise is still dragging its regarding this matter. More than 72 hours after the incident, there has still been no official complaint on ATK's part regarding a matter as grave as an allegation of racism.

Word of the allegations stayed under the rugs until Baljit made his accusation public in an interview with the Bengali tabloid "Ebela". Presumably, he had talked to the team management about the matter beforehand, but for whatever reason, they failed to advise him about the proper channels to be taken when making raising such a sensitive allegation. And even now, they don't seem to be taking it that seriously.