Last Updated: June 28, 2023, 08:30 IST
India assistant coach Mahesh Gawli on Tuesday lambasted the refereeing after a number of rancorous moments marked the 1-1 draw between India and Kuwait within the SAFF Championship.
The match noticed the officers flashing purple playing cards 3 times as India head coach Igor Stimac, India participant Rahim Ali and Kuwait’s Al Qallaf have been despatched off between 81st and eighty fifth minutes of the proceedings.
In truth, it was Stimac’s second purple card in three matches as he had obtained the same therapy within the sport towards Pakistan final week.
“The refereeing was poor and the SAFF has to consider the standard of the officers or the event will endure. Our coach (Stimac) was faultless and the referee couldn’t management the match. Our workforce was good and Kuwait was very tough,” said Gawli in the post-match press conference.
Tempers also flared after Stimac’s sending off after Sahal Abdul Samad was fouled in the Kuwait half and the West Asians prevented a quick restart, resulting in a scuffle, after which Hamad Al-Qallaf and Rahim Ali were shown red.
Gawli said even the yellow card that Stimac received before he was getting the marching orders was totally unnecessary.
“Our coach was just having a conversation with the player and the referee, after talking with the line officials, approached him (Stimac) and showed the card. They were targeting him,” stated a visibly upset Gawli.
After the match, the referee needed to escorted out ofthe stadium by the police.
The purple card meant that Stimac will be unable to face on the touchline when India face Lebanon within the semifinals on July 1.
It was to be a merciless finish to India’s seven-match clean-sheet run. Abdullah Al-Bloushi’s harmless-looking cross from the proper deflected into the Indian web as Anwar Ali tried to hook it clear.
Gawli was healthful in his reward for the teen.
“Anwar was good and was very assured. He had a superb sport,” said Gawli, who also praised captain Sunil Chhetri for scoring a marvellous goal in the first half to put India ahead.
While scenes on the pitch were unfortunate, the Kanteerava crowd made sure to keep the Blue Tigers’ heads high, chanting the loudest they had the entire night to demonstrate how proud they were of their team which fought until the end, but were unlucky not to get it.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan BasuRitayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com, covers badminton and cricket however soccer stays his forte. Follow him at @ritayanbasu…Read More
Source: www.news18.com
