Former France midfielder Pires suspended by Indian Super League

Former France midfielder Pires suspended by Indian Super League

Published Oct. 26, 2014 7:24 a.m. ET

Former France midfielder Robert Pires and Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas have been suspended and fined by the Indian Super League for a scuffle during a match last week.

Pires, Goa's marquee player, was suspended for two matches and Spaniard Habas for four. Both were also fined of 500,000 Rupees ($8,160), according to a statement from the ISL late Saturday.

Pires and Habas were reportedly exchanged blows in the tunnel during half-time of the Goa-Kolkata match Thursday.

Kolkata's goalkeeping coach Predipkumar Bhaktawer has also been suspended for one match and fined $490 for his role in the incident.

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The Kolkata club, which leads the eight-team league with 10 points from four matches, will also be without striker Fikru Lemessa.

Ethiopian player Lemessa was suspended for two matches and also fined $8,160 for head-butting Goa player Gregory Arnolin during the match, which saw yellow cards shown to seven players.

The inaugural edition of the ISL has generally seen good crowds in the early matches with big names like Alessandro Del Piero, Luis Garcia and David Trezeguet turning out for different teams.

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