ISL bouncers manhandled FC Goa co-owner: Dattaraj Salgaocar

BOUNCERS AND SECURITY PERSONNEL stationed at the Indian Super League (ISL) final venue manhandled FC Goa co-owner Shrinivas Dempo and did not allow the team's owners to meet the players after the final match on Sunday, the team's other part-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar said on Monday.

Salgaocar, who had filed a criminal complaint against Elano for the alleged assault, which led to the Brazilian footballer's subsequent arrest, also told reporters at a press conference that if Chennaiyin midfielder had apologised to him after the incident, he would not have pursued the matter.

"We were not allowed to go inside and were kept out by I dont know some security or bouncers or whatever. They caught hold of Baba's (Shrinivas Dempo) shirt and badly manhandled him. Baba was furious. I was just behind... They were saying 'who are you and who is this (to Baba)'," Salgaocar said.

The co-owner also said that while FC Goa management was barred from meeting its players, the Chennaiyin FC counterparts were allowed free access, accusing ISL of preferential treatment to the Chennai-based outfit.

Incidentally, Salgaocar is the brother in-law of Nita Ambani, who heads the IMG-Reliance combine which organises the ISL.

The FC Goa co-owner also said, that the ISL did not take any action against Elano despite complaints by the team management to the tournament's organisers, about the alleged assault by him and alleged hurling of abuses by the Brazilian player.

"We thought some action would be taken against the player. They did not do anything. They said you write to us, we will see. It was at that time, to show that we have some pride, some self esteem, I had to do what had to be done. I filed for the first time an FIR against Elano," Salgaocar said.

Elano, who was arrested following Salgaocar's FIR was subsequently released on bail earlier today, even as his lawyer has insisted that the complaint against the footballer was false.

Salgaocar also said that if Elano had apologised to him after the incident, he would have not gone ahead with the registration of an FIR.

"If Elano came to me immediately and apologised, I would not have done anything. I don't like to do all this, but he did not. There was arrogance. There was a sense of triumph and that coupled with everything, we had to do what was to be done," Salgaocar said.

Dempo, who was also present at the press conference held in Panaji, also said that FC Goa would not have boycotted the presentation ceremony following the final, in which Chennaiyin triumphed, had ISL acted against Elano.

"That was the minimum which should have happened," Dempo said.

Dempo also said that FC Goa had asked ISL to red card Elano from the stadium premises and reprimand the player by not allowing him to attend the presentation ceremony, a request he said was not acted on.

"We were very very upset," Dempo said, while explaining why team did not participate in the presentation ceremony or a post match press conference