Mohun Bagan take Bhutia case to FIFA'S court

Kolkata, Nov 5: Mohun Bagan have moved world football governing body FIFA challenging the All India Football Federation-appointed arbitrator's decision to allow Bhaichung Bhutia to turn out for arch-rivals East Bengal this season.

In a fax to the world body's secretary general Jerome Valcke Thursday, the city club requested for restoration of Bhutia's contract with the club for the 2009-10 season.

"We have challenged the arbitrator's decision to give Bhutia interim relief to play for East Bengal till the final resolution of the matter. We want restoration of the original contract that he had with us for the 2009-10 season," Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra told IANS.

The missive routed through West Bengal's soccer ruling body Indian Football Association (IFA) sought FIFA's intervention for a final settlement of the matter which has been hogging media headlines in India for months.

The letter was accompanied by a 255-page document detailing the club's version of the dispute with the country's most expensive footballer.

The Kolkata club had suspended Bhutia for six months for missing an exhibition match and some practice sessions last season. The Indian captain appealed to the AIFF against the ban and federation president Praful Patel appointed Amarendra Sharan as arbitrator on the issue.

Sharan, a former Additional Solicitor General of India, gave interim relief to Bhutia, saying he is free to play for any club till a final verdict is given.

Bhutia is now playing for East Bengal, even though he entered into an agreement with Mohun Bagan for the 2009-10 season earlier.

--IANS