Blasters issue apology over ‘ISL walkout’: Regrets being part of ‘negative circumstances’: Says coach Vukomanovic

A month after their infamous walkout from the Indian Super League knockout match against Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters have apologised.

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— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) April 2, 2023

 

However, the Blasters’ head coach Ivan Vukomanovic, who initiated the walkout, has not explicitly tendered an apology. Instead, in a note he shared on Instagram, Vukomanovic has talked about how he regrets ‘being part of’ the ‘negative circumstances’.

We will come back stronger together

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— Ivan Vukomanovic (@ivanvuko19) April 2, 2023

 

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had reportedly found the club and its Serbian head coach guilty of bringing the game to disrepute with the walkout following a controversial freekick goal scored by Sunil Chhetri in the first half of Extra Time that gave Bengaluru a 1-0 lead. The Blasters’ walkout happened after a hotly-disputed goal scored by Bengaluru’s Sunil Chhetri off a freekick. The Kochi-based club had filed a protest to the AIFF earlier against referee Crystal John for the manner in which he allowed Chhetri to take the freekick that resulted in the goal. But it was rejected.