The infringement by Ravanan during the match played in Pune escaped the match officials' attention but he was sanctioned under the AIFF Disciplinary Code's Retrospective Ban provision.
All India Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee handed the ban on Ravanan 'for his violent conduct towards opponent's team member' during that match on the basis of video evidence of the incident.
Experts said that it could perhaps be the first time a video evidence was relied upon to arrive at a retrospective ban decision.
"Ravanan Dharmaraj was found guilty of 'misconduct against opponents or persons other than match officials' under AIFF Disciplinary Code Article 49 'D' for his violent conduct towards opponent's team member during Match 21 of the Hero ISL 2016 (23rd October 2016 vs Chennaiyin FC) at Balewadi, Pune.
"Ravanan Dharmaraj's action was reviewed under the AIFF Disciplinary Code's Retrospective Ban which authorise the National Federation Disciplinary Committee to sanction serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention."