‘The next time Paul takes the field, it could be me’

Ever since he made his first comments on Sunday, Indian sports fans — and even those who barely follow football — have been wonder...

Ever since he made his first comments on Sunday, Indian sports fans — and even those who barely follow football — have been wondering, What’s eating Bhaichung Bhutia? The national football captain is known for his reserved demeanour, rarely speaking, and then being very diplomatic.

The death of his close friend Cristiano on Sunday, however, saw Bhaichung first issuing a strongly worded statement condemning goalkeeper Subrata Paul and then taking the unprecedented step of calling a press conference to re-state his anger.

But it’s not personal, Bhaichung told The Indian Express today. ‘‘I’m doing it because of the manner in which players get away with it. I’ve nothing against Paul but when you see an association seeking reports and not handing out a preliminary ‘ban’ to a player, it worries me. It makes me wonder, What could happen to me the next time he takes the field? Could it be me? There’s no guarantee.’’

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He’s a player himself, so doesn’t he believe fouls are part of the game? ‘‘Hey man’’, he snaps back, ‘‘I know the difference between legal and illegal on the field.’’

The issue here is the big picture. ‘‘I don’t support unfair play and that’s the point I’m trying to make. For some time now, FIFA has been harping on ensuring fair play all over the world, so why can’t India take it up more seriously?’’

	Bagan coach Bhattacharya blasts Bhutia

			• Kolkata: A day after Bhaichung Bhutia held Mohun Bagan custodian Subrata Paul responsible for the death of Cristiano Junior, Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharya rapped the East Bengal striker for trying to create ‘‘an atmosphere of animosity among the players.’’ ‘‘If Bhutia’s accusation against Subrata takes a serious turn, he would be solely responsible. I fail to understand why Bhaichung Bhutia is making such a statement,’’ an angry Bhattacharya said. — PTI

One of the main reasons for players getting away scot free, he says, is lack of TV coverage. The world over (or at least in most parts), he says, national associations use video evidence as standard procedure while deciding on a player’s punishment. ‘‘All players expect to play a well-conducted game but if players are let off, things can only get worse.’’

He doesn’t, however, believe that referees are to be blamed. ‘‘In fact, I’d say that they have improved in recent times. In any case, the blames should not be directed at one part of a structure.’’

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What the game needs is all-round improvement, Bhutia says. ‘‘Players ought to be corrected, else a bad example is set. And that could lead to more tragedy…’’