East Bengal has decided to approach the India Football Association (IFA), the body that administers the sport in West Bengal, with a request to reduce the punishment slapped on its players and coaches for manhandling the referee after the club’s 1-0 defeat to Peerless in a Calcutta Football League Premier Division ‘A’ match on Monday.

After receiving referee Dipu Roy’s report, the IFA disciplinary committee decided to suspend EB players Lalrindika Ralte and Mehtab Singh for one match and impose a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. Both were asked to pay the fine within 72 hours, failing which they would be suspended for one year.

Lalrindika and Mehtab missed EB's match against Kalighat on Thursday.

The IFA also suspended team manager Debraj Chowdhury and goalkeeping coach Abhra Mondal for one year from IFA events.

Jaime Santos was let off with a warning as the referee's report didn't have anything against him.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, EB executive body member Debabrata Sarkar said the club would request the IFA to reduce the suspension and the fine.

EB coach Alejandro Menendez said, “Whatever happened (after the match against Peerless) should not have happened.”

Mondal regretted his involvement in the incident. “I retired as a player recently, so the rush of blood is still there. I should have realized that I am no more a player and guiding some players,” he said.