SAG show cause to GAC

The Sports Authority of Goa on Tuesday decided to issue a show cause notice to the Goa Cricket Association, asking it to explain why it should not be derecognised following the fake tickets scandal in the One-Day International cricket match between India and Australia, at Margao, on April 6.

The decision to issue the notice was taken at an emergency meeting of the general body of the Sports Authority of Goa, which was presided over by Goa Sports Minister Sanjay Bandekar.

The SAG asked the GCA to submit its reply within 15 days, even as it discussed ways and means to formulate stringent guidelines for various sports associations to avoid any recurrence of similar incidents.

For the purpose, the SAG constituted a five-member committee comprising the sports minister, All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco, Goa Swimming Association president Anil Madgaonkar, Goa Taekondo Association president Raju Mangueshkar and SAG executive director M V Prabhudesai.

The meeting also decided to write to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, expressing its displeasure over the conduct of the April 6 ODI, which, members said, tarnished the image of Goa.

Sources said the SAG general body was informed that the GCA is yet to pay up Rs 952,000 towards the conduct of a match it had staged in December 1997. The meeting decided to initiate action against the association to recover the dues as early as possible.

Though the SAG had earlier agreed to charge the GCA Rs one million for the use of the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Fatorda, the venue of the April 6 ODI, the general body decided to withdraw the offer and charge 20 per cent of the gate collection of the ODI, as, it said, the GCA failed to properly manage the affairs of match, which led to financial and other irregularities.

Some members of the general body criticised the SAG for providing concessions to the GCA, despite the fact that it had not paid its dues towards the ODI it organised three years ago.

They also called for formulating a clear-cut policy with regard to concessions to be offered to various sports associations for conducting national and international events.