New Delhi: After branding Mohun Bagan’s actions against Bhaichung Bhutia as "inane" earlier, Indian national team coach Bob Houghton felt that the entire episode could have been avoided if the club wanted to.
Bhaichung Bhutia has been suspended for six months by Mohun Bagan for his lack of commitment towards the game and giving more attention to non-football activities.
Mohun Bagan had earlier given green signal to Bhaichung’s participation in the dance reality show with the club officials and coach Karim Bencherifa speaking in favour of the Indian skipper throughout.
Houghton pointed that, as a coach, he would have never allowed that in the first place itself thuS questioning the Bagan think-tank.
"If Bhaichung had come to me and asked for a day off, I would have allowed him to go but similarly if he would have wanted to skip national training and dance in a show, there is no way I would have allowed him. The last thing I would have done is involve the executive committee and go to the newspapers," Houghton was quoted saying.
The Sikkimese Sniper has written to the Indian Football Association (IFA), through his legal counsel, asking them to look into the matter and help him get a release from the Mariners with whom he has a year left in his contract.
Houghton believes that washing the dirty linen in public by the club hasn’t helped as, at the end of the day, Indian football is the sore loser.
"I think in this incident everybody is a loser. Mohun Bagan is a loser, Bhaichung is a loser because he was forced to read those articles about himself for the last few days, Indian football is a loser, our game is been ridiculed publicly," Houghton said.
"The captain of the national team finally saying publicly he would never play for the club, how is it for leadership? Is this how you handle things," questioned the Englishman.
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