The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has imposed fines on FC Goa and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) following its meeting held on December 17. The sanctions were handed out on two separate counts, relating to safety violations and a delay in match proceedings.
FC Goa has been fined for breaching safety and law-and-order regulations during its AFC Champions League Two group-stage match against Al Nassr on October 2. According to the AFC, the club failed to meet key obligations required under competition regulations.
The AFC stated that FC Goa violated two specific responsibilities. The first was the failure to “comply with and implement existing safety rules and take every safety precaution demanded by circumstances after the match.” The second breach was related to maintaining law and order in and around the stadium, after one spectator invaded the areas surrounding the field of play during the match.
These actions were deemed offences under Article 64.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code. As a result, FC Goa has been ordered to pay a fine of approximately Rs. 4.5 lakh, which is equivalent to USD 5,000.
In a separate decision, the AIFF was penalised for a delay during an international fixture. The offence occurred during the AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifier between India and Bangladesh on November 18, which was played at the National Stadium in Dhaka.
According to the AFC, the second half of the match was delayed by one minute and 43 seconds beyond the scheduled restart time. The delay was considered a breach of competition regulations, leading to disciplinary action against the AIFF.
For this offence, the AIFF has been fined Rs. 90,000, amounting to USD 1,000. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) was also sanctioned in connection with the same delay and has been fined over Rs. 1,13,000, which equals USD 1,250 or BDT 1,52,651.
Both federations were held accountable for ensuring matches adhere strictly to scheduling protocols, which the AFC considers an important part of maintaining professionalism and fairness in international competitions.
The AFC has directed all parties involved — FC Goa, the AIFF, and the BFF — to settle their respective fines by January 17. The decisions underline the governing body’s strict stance on safety, discipline, and match operations across club and international football in Asia.
