New Delhi: Punjab FC have lodged a complaint with the All India Football Federation and the Indian Super League over referee’s decision regarding Rahul KP’s foul on Luka Majcen that sidelined him for six-eight weeks with a fractured jaw.
Though Punjab began their 2024-25 ISL campaign with a 2-1 victory over Kerala Blasters victory on Sunday, that too away in Kochi, it came at a heavy price as their leading striker was ruled out for an extended period of time on Wednesday.
Kerala forward Rahul KP barged into Majcen towards the end of the match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, sending the Slovenian crashing to the ground on impact of the collision. It became immediately clear that he had sustained a severe blow on his face.
Majcen had scored from the spot in the 86th minute and then created Punjab’s match winner in the fifth minute of added time after which he had to be substituted following the injury.
Referee Venkatesh Ramachadran only flashed a yellow card, which made Punjab appeal to the AIFF and the ISL as they perceive the decision as too light.
“The referee’s decision is wrong. It was a rugby tackle, which has been pointed out in the letter sent to the AIFF and the ISL,” a source aware of the development disclosed to News9 Sports.
“Rahul KP’s unsportsmanlike behaviour has also been highlighted with the demand of appropriate action. Now it is up to the ISL’s competitions committee and AIFF’s disciplinary committee to look into the matter.”
🚨 CLUB STATEMENT: LUKA MAJCEN🚨#PunjabDaJosh #TheShers #ISL pic.twitter.com/Rt997hiNcl
— Punjab FC (@RGPunjabFC) September 18, 2024
The colour of the card usually depends on intensity of foul, which Punjab reckon the referee misjudged while only cautioning the player instead of evicting him.
“It was an unwanted aggressive foul by the Kerala Blasters player which resulted in Luka’s injury and we as a club do not support such an aggressive nature of the game which yields to nothing,” Punjab’s football director Nikolaos Topoliatis said in a club statement.
Refereeing decisions are usually reviewed by AIFF’s referees department. “These matters are handled by the AIFF’s referees department as routine ones,” an AIFF insider said.
The AIFF’s disciplinary committee is yet to raise any charge over the matter, though it can be made at a later date.
The ISL is yet to comment on the matter.
Concussion substitute
Since the ISL has introduced the concussion substitutes rule this season, Punjab are also mulling to use it to replace Majcen as he is now confirmed to be away from action for a long time.
“A call is yet to be taken if Majcen would be replaced, first it needs to be checked whether the concussion replacement rule would come into effect or not,” the source said.
Majcen will need surgery after suffering two fractures to his jaw and would only return to action if cleared by the club’s medical team.
Punjab’s next outing is against Odisha FC at their adopted home of New Delhi on Friday.
Luka Majcen is out for eight weeks after suffering a fractured jaw on impact of Rahul KP’s foul in Punjab FC’s 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters in their ISL opener Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
