Source: Hueiyen News Service
Kolkata, May 15 2009:
Mohun Bagan has barred captain Baichung Bhutia from team practice and served a showcause notice asking him to explain the reasons behind his missing training sessions and skipping an exhibition match in Jalpaiguri without permission.
Bhutia was served the showcause notice last night and was asked to explain his "erratic behaviour" for missing a number of training sessions towards the end of the season and skipping an exhibition match at Jaipaiguri on Monday.
In the strongly-worded letter, Mohun Bagan have asked the ace striker and India soccer captain to explain his behaviour within 48 hours and until then "advised" him not to join team practice.
Bhutia has not replied to the showcause notice till now.
In the letter, Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra pointed out that "Baichung remained too occupied with other activities like television reality shows and was not at all committed to the cause of the club".
Mitra alleged: "Your performance during the later stages of ONGC I-League and Super Cup was not up to the desired standard.
This is one of the main reasons that Mohun Bagan could not win the League".
The Sikkimese star chose not to travel with the team to Jordan and joined for their AFC Cup tie against Al Wehdat sessions later.
This was followed by Mohun Bagan skipper deciding not to travel to Jaipaiguri though there are suggestions that the player had some niggling injuries.
However, Bhutia had taken permission from the club and coach Karim Bencherifa before embarking on his dance journey.