Suva and national football striker, Anish Khem, was told that he could not play in the Digicel Sanatan tournament in Labasa, last Saturday.

Tournament officials were informed that Khem had been suspended by the Suva Football Association.

Efforts to get a comment from Khem over the incident yesterday proved futile.

When contacted Suva FA president Ritesh Pratap confirmed Khem’s suspen­sion.

He said the 29-year-old school teacher had signed a contract with Suva FA and had breached certain terms and condi­tions.

“The association pays him apart from that if he wants to play elsewhere he needs to get a consent from us, which he didn’t,” Pratap said.

“Two weeks ago he (Khem) gave a sick sheet informing us that he was injured and missed our training sessions for the Battle of the Giants.”

He said on August 20, Khem didn’t play in their Digicel Premier League game against Labasa at Subrail Park.

“When we were returning to Suva, we were told he was playing in the Labasa Sanatan tournament,” Pratap said.

“We told Khem not to play. He ignored it and that was when we issued him a sus­pension letter.”

Last Saturday, Khem turned up with his Jay Deals Lajonia Sanatan club in their match against Savusavu.

Khem was on the reserve bench but tournament officials wanted him to leave. He refused and the game was held up for about 20 minutes.

Tournament chairperson Roneel Ram told Khem that they had been informed about his suspension from Suva FA on August 22.

“Since we are affiliated with Fiji Foot­ball Association, a suspended district player from all levels of soccer (football) cannot participate in this tournament,” Ram said.

Then later the same day, Khem returned to the reserve bench to play against Tabia Sanatan but police officers intervened along with tournament officials.

Khem then left the ground accompanied by a relative.

Lajonia Sanatan team coach Ranjan Sharma did not wish to comment saying that they don’t want to ruin Khem’s foot­ball career

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