Thursday’s governing body meeting of the IFA is expected to clear the air and decide on a course of action to untangle the problems between Bhutia and Mohun Bagan club. However, even as the summit assumes importance, the IFA’s move to splurge Rs 10,000 and book a separate venue, the Town Hall, has raised quite a few eyebrows. The IFA could have easily held the meeting at its usual office, which comfortably accommodates all the governing body members. The decision to pay big bucks just for an evening’s meeting will surely draw criticism considering that the IFA only recently was dealt a heavy blow by one of its sponsors. A television channel recently turned down a contract with the football association.

Bhutia’s legal expert Banerjee is expected to appear before the governing body at Thursday’s all-important meeting, but the player himself won’t be available since he is training overseas. Mohun Bagan club has also been asked to send over at least one representative to attend what is now being called the case’s hearing.

The IFA’s decision to spend a commendable amount of money on Bhutia’s comes in stark contrast to its handling of the much lesser publicised controversy surrounding Snehasish Chakrabarty, who is in a spot over his signing over from Chirag United to Mohun Bagan.