Bagan stand by ‘innocent’ Barreto

Calcutta: Mohun Bagan, stunned by Jose Ramirez Barreto’s arrest on Thursday, stood by the Brazilian saying he was innocent and that he would come out clean from the latest controversy.
Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra pointed out that Barreto was not aware of the customs rules and the club would “do whatever possible” to make sure he could join his family in Brazil.
“The season has just ended for us and Barreto got the latest salary cheque only on Wednesday. His wife and two daughters had left for Brazil earlier this month and so Barreto had decided to carry their money as well. The maximum amount of money allowed under Foreign Exchange Management Act changes periodically and even many Indian players don’t know these changes,” Mitra said.
The club secretary, in the absence of president Swapan Sadhan Bose and other senior officials, played a key role in having the player released on bail.Mohun Bagan assistant secretary in charge of football affairs, Debashish Dutta, later held a meeting with Barreto, assuring him that he had the club’s support.
Former players and coaches also think that Barreto made an innocent mistake and that he was not aware of the law.
21/03/08 The Telegraph

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Categories: Airports Mar 2008, Foreign Mar 2008