World football governing body FIFA has slapped a Rs 4.04 lakh (6,000 Swiss francs) fine on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for failing to adhere to the rules during the Russia 2018 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers last year.
The AIFF has been asked to pay the sum for fielding an ineligible player during India's September 8, 2015, game against Iran. The game has been termed a "No Contest" now, according to a Times of India report.
Star midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who received two yellow cards in the previous two group fixtures for India, appeared in the game against Iran in Bengaluru, thus attracting the wrath of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
The football world governing body acted by Article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the Article 8 of the 2018 World Cup regulations.
Article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code states: "If a player takes part in an official match despite being ineligible, his team will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6,000. If a player takes part in a friendly match despite being ineligible, his team will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 4,000."
The report also claimed the Indian national football team management, including head coach Stephen Constantine and team manager Shanmugham Venkatesh, were completely unaware the Bengaluru FC midfielder had been booked in their previous two World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Guam.
India lost the game to Iran by a 3-0 margin.
Eugeneson, meanwhile, is not a part of the 28-member list of probables for the Indian football team in its remaining World Cup qualifier matches against Iran and Turkmenistan.
