Marco Materazzi, the head coach of Chennaiyin FC has been suspended for one match in the ISL, which means he will not be at the touchline for today’s game against Mumbai City FC. The Italian was suspended for his role in the fracas at the end of the Super Machans previous game against the Kerala Blasters
The statement from the Indian Super League released on Wednesday said, “Chennaiyin FC head coach Marco Materazzi is suspended for one match of Hero Indian Super League 2016 with immediate effect.”
“Materazzi was found guilty of ‘misconduct against opponents or persons other than match officials’ under AIFF Disciplinary Committee Article 49 C for his unsporting behavior towards a team official of the opponent team after the Hero ISL 2016 Match 26 (29th October 2016 vs Kerala Blasters FC) at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai”, the statement said.
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After the game last Saturday, Manuele Blasi of the Chennaiyin FC and Kervens Belfort of Kerala Blasters got into a scuffle, with the Kerala Blasters faithful throwing objects at the duo. Materazzi seemed to try and talk to the players (or join the scuffle). Though not confirmed, Marco Materazzi’s suspension seems to be due to that event.
Speaking about the event after the game, the Italian World Cup winner noted that all he had done was tell Belfort not to get involved in incidents such as those so early into his Indian Super League career, but it seems the ISL disciplinary committee has taken a dim view of things.
Chennaiyin FC have struggled to replicate last season’s form
Ironically enough, Materazzi had noted the need to adopt an aggressive mentality, saying “We know we are facing a really good team with solid defence and quality in attack. We have to have a change in mentality once again and face (Kerala) with an aggressive mentality.” The Italian seems to have taken his own advice to an extreme conclusion.
The Super Machans are currently placed 5th in the table, with 9 points from 6 games. They have experienced a lot of draws this season, in stark contrast to how they performed at the end of last year, inspired by players such as Elano Blumer and John Stiven Mendoza, who are no longer with the club.
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A suspension for Marco Materazzi is not the most ideal of situations for the Super Machans, as the Italian is a motivational presence on the touchline. If Chennayin FC do beat Mumbai City FC tonight, they will go top of the ISL table. Materazzi will return to the dugout against Delhi Dynamos in Chennai’s next game.
Additional reporting by Soumalya Moitra
