New Delhi: rajasthan royals Head coach Romi Binder was caught using his mobile phone in the team’s dugout during the team’s match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Guwahati on Friday, in violation of the PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) protocol. The incident took place in the 11th over of the RR Chase when Bhinder was using his mobile phone and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was sitting on his right, was peeking at his screen.
According to the PMOA Agreement – 2026 intense pulsed lightAccording to the official website, head coaches are allowed to carry mobile phones, but they are not allowed to use them in the dugout. The content of the agreement is as follows:TelephoneCell phones and other electronic communication devices are not allowed in the PMOA except for a limited number of team members.*Team managers can use phones in the locker room area, but not in the dugoutIn addition to team managers, media managers may also have phones in the PMOA area, but usage is specified in the agreement issued before the game. Bindel could face trouble for his actions and is likely to be summoned by match referees and anti-corruption authorities. The incident has now gone viral on social media and it remains to be seen how the IPL Governing Council handles the incident. “Managers and media managers carry mobile phones but the rules regarding its use are very clear. Using it in the dugout is a serious blunder as Romi is sitting next to the players who are looking at his screen while scrolling. There is no gray area here and it is now up to the officials to look into the matter,” an IPL official said.IPL founding chairman Lalit Modi also posted on X about the incident, urging the governing committee to “take immediate action”.The dressing rooms, external match viewing area for players, TV/third umpire area, match umpire’s room, players and match officials dining area, dugout areas, any other areas as determined by the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Manager are part of the PMOA and the two BCCI Anti-Corruption Managers appointed by the Head of BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) are responsible for ensuring that proper arrangements are made for the arrival of the teams at least 30 minutes before the start of the match. Players and support staff store their phones before entering the field and retrieve them after the game. Only a few team members are allowed to use phones or other communication devices, but guidelines for use are clearly outlined in the PMOA protocol document.
