Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler handed four-match touchline ban and £5k fine after slamming Indian Super League refs
LIVERPOOL legend Robbie Fowler has been hit with a £5k fine and a four-match touchline ban after an astonishing attack on referees.
The 45-year-old, known as ‘God’ to many Kopites, has been in charge of Indian Super League strugglers East Bengal since October.
But the former England striker landed in hot water for his outburst after the Kolkata side's 1-1 draw with FC Goa last Friday.
Fowler reportedly said he was ‘not sure whether the referees have an anti-English thing or anti-East Bengal thing’ following the game.
The country's FA, the All India Football Federation, has now fined him 500,000 rupees and suspended him from the dug-out for the next four ISL fixtures.
However the ruling body rebuffed claims made in some quarters that his comments were racist.
They said: “The AIFF disciplinary committee has sanctioned SC East Bengal head coach Mr Robbie Fowler for breaching Article 50 (misconduct against match officials) of the AIFF disciplinary code.
“He has been suspended for 4 matches and fined 500,000 rupees [£5,043].
“This punitive action is specifically in regard to Mr Fowler's criticism of on-field refereeing decisions in matches of the Indian Super League 2020-21 season involving East Bengal.
“The adverse remarks have questioned and cast aspersions on the integrity and honesty of the match officials, who have supervised the matches with the best of their abilities, with sincerity and maintaining neutrality.
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“However, the committee, taking note of certain media reports, clarified that none of Mr Fowler's comments were racist ones.”
East Bengal are one of the powerhouses of Indian football but currently lie second bottom of the top-flight.
Fowler, who won the Uefa, FA and two League Cups during his Anfield playing days, began his management career with Muangthong United in Thailand back in 2011.
He lasted a year there before he got back into the dugout in 2019.
The ex-Leeds and Manchester City ace spent 12 months in charge of Australian side Brisbane Roar before heading to India in the Autumn.
