Police arrested Brazilian midfielder Elano Blumer for allegedly assaulting the co-owner of rival FC Goa team after his side Chennaiyin’s dramatic win in the Indian Super League final.
The former Manchester City and Galatasary star, who captains Chennaiyin in the ISL, was later released on bail, police inspector Chetan L. Patil told AFP over phone from Margao.
“A complaint was lodged by Dattaraj Salgaocar of FC Goa team after which we placed Elano under arrest,” Patil said.
“He was released on bail at 2:30am (2100 GMT) on the orders of the additional sessions judge and he left for his hotel after that.”
Salgaocar, the co-owner of FC Goa, claimed that Elano physically attacked him in an altercation that occurred at the home team’s dugout after the final whistle.
The Press Trust of India news agency said Elano was making fun of FC Goa players, who lost the game 3-2 after a stunning turnaround by Chennaiyin at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, packed with home fans.
When Salgaocar protested, he was allegedly attacked by Elano, 34, PTI said.
Elano first made a name for himself as a goal-scoring attacking midfielder at Santos, where he played alongside Robinho.
He moved to Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk where he won back-to-back league titles before joining Manchester City for whom he scored 14 goals in 62 Premier League appearances.
Elano represented Brazil on 50 occasions and was part of the squad that won the Copa America in 2007.
A lawyer for Chennaiyin told local media Elano was free to leave the country on the condition that he must return to appear in court.