New Delhi: The suspension of Mahesh Gawli and Samir Naik for missing the national camp may snowball into a controversy with the senior Indian players on Tuesday describing it as a "disgraceful and unjustified decision" by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The national team players for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup have shot a letter, signed by all of them, to the AIFF President Praful Patel in protest against the suspension of the two players, who were nursing injuries and on the direction of their Club - Dempo - did not attend the camp.
"Both players were keen and committed to join the national camp at Goa but were denied permission by their club.
The national team players expressed shock and distress at the disgraceful and unjustified decision against both these senior players who have each served the country with utmost sincerity and commitment for over a decade," a release posted at the website of the Football Players' Association of India said.
"The AIFF's decision does not address root issues with clubs and simply makes easy targets of the players," it added.
Gawli and Naik were suspended by the AIFF after its emergency committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday for not attending the national camp after the federation had written Dempo to release them to be treated by Indian team doctors.
The national teammates of Gawli and Naik said the suspension of the two players would set a wrong precedent.
"We have requested Patel to look into the matter and trust he would deliver a just decision that would not send the wrong message to the players," the players said.
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