Kolkata: Mohun Bagan today (Dec 11, 2004) came out with the claim that their custodian Subroto Paul had not touched Cristiano Junior during the fateful incident in the final of the Federation Cup moments before the Brazilian striker collapsed on the field and died last Sunday.

''It seems that Paul's hand not touched Junior's body,'' Mohun Bagan assistant general secretary Balaram Chowdhury told said.

Chowdhury watched a video recording of the match, particularly the incident in the 78th minute when Junior died apparently after colliding with Paul after scoring the second goal for Dempo Sports Club.

Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharya, two court appointed special officers of the club retd justices G N Roy and Shyamal Sen, former IFA secretary Ranjit Gupta and ex-FIFA referee Laxmi Narayan Ghosh were present at the screening held in the central Kolkata.

Chowdhury said that the recording would be shown to three former Olympian footballers on December 15. The names of the Olympians were yet to be decided.

The AIFF has placed Paul under suspension and asked him to reply to a show cause notice by December 20.

''Paul's reply to the show cause would be prepared after ascertaining the views of the Olympians and those who viewed the recording today,'' he said.