Mohun Bagan bars Bhutia from team practice

Mohun Bagan has barred captain Baichung Bhutia from team practice and served a showcause notice asking him to explain the reasons behind his missing training sessions and skipping an exhibition match in Jalpaiguri without permission.

Bhutia was served the showcause notice last night and was asked to explain his "erratic behaviour" for missing a number of training sessions towards the end of the season and skipping an exhibition match at Jaipaiguri on Monday.

In the strongly-worded letter, Mohun Bagan have asked the ace striker and India soccer captain to explain his behaviour within 48 hours and until then "advised" him not to join team practice.

Mohun Bagan has called a meeting in the club premises later today to decide the course of action.

Bhutia has not replied to the showcause notice till now and not receiving phone calls on his mobile.

In the letter, Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra pointed out that "Bhaichung remained too occupied with other activities like television reality shows and was not at all committed to the cause of the club".

Mitra alleged: "Your performance during the later stages of ONGC I-League and Super Cup was not up to the desired standard. This is one of the main reasons that Mohun Bagan could not win the League."

"It is evident that this season your focus has shifted from football and it has now become your secondary interest. It is unexpected from a senior professional footballer," Mitra said in the letter, addressing Bhutia as a "registered player" but not as captain of the outfit.

The Sikkimese star chose not to travel with the team to Jordan and joined for their AFC Cup tie against Al Wehdat sessions later.

This was followed by Mohun Bagan skipper deciding not to travel to Jaipaiguri though there are suggestions that the player had some niggling injuries.

In another occasion, Bhutia did not travel with the team for I-League match against Mahindra United in Delhi, Mitra pointed out in the letter.

After he joined a dance reality show on television, Bhutia had to shuffle between Kolkata and Mumbai every week.

However, Bhutia had taken permission from the club and coach Karim Bencherifa before embarking on his dance journey.

It remains to be seen the next course of action from Bhutia, who still has a year in his contract left with the club.