Referee in spotlight in Kings’ labouring victory

Sri Lankan referee Lakmal Weerakkody became the centre of talk following an ill-tempered affair which saw Bashundhara Kings struggle past nine-man Chennai City FC in their second Group B fixture of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.

The 3-2 victory kept the Bangladesh Premier League champions in race for the last four, but the victory became a secondary issue after Chennai City’s assistant coach Satyasagara alleged the referee of biased officiating as well as racism.

The controversy started in the 23rd minute when Chennai City midfielder Katsumi Yusa snapped following a foul on one of his teammates. Despite the referee awarding a free-kick, the Japanese midfielder burst into a rage, arguing with Bashundhara Kings coach Oscar Bruzon for a while before kicking the fourth official’s desk at the sideline and then running back into the ground attempting to assault the referee.

“On behalf of the management of the club, the officials who officiated the game is really a setback. The federation must investigate the decision he made today. The referee made a racist remark calling him (Katsumi), China. He (Katsumi) went emotionally down and cried at the dressing room,” Satyasagara claimed at the post-match press conference.

“The opponent coach ran out to the pitch to our technical area but he (referee) decided to give red card to both coaches which is not fair. Why should the opponent coach run to our area and entangle our coach,” the Singaporean added.

The Indian outfit later filed a complaint to the match commissioner in this regard, it has been learnt.

The match proved to be a feisty affair right through as both teams were looking for their first points following defeats in their opening games. Bashundhara Kings made four changes to their starting eleven and looked a different side when they took a sixth-minute lead, with Lebanese international Jalal Kdouh receiving Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov’s back-header with his outstretched right foot and volleying home with his left.

The I-League champions felt the referee overlooked a handball by Bashundhara Kings defender Bishwanath Ghosh on the edge of the box before Katsumi snapped following the controversial moment.

The Chennai players walked off and were cajoled in by their officials about 12 minutes later before skipper Pedro Manzi Cruz got them on level terms on 43 minutes, smashing home a rebound.

During the extended stoppage time, Bruzon charged down towards the opposition dug-out following a foul on one of his players. Chennai City coach Akbar Nawas retaliated and the two coaches engaged in a fracas, forcing the referee to expel both with red cards.

Despite the initial stranglehold, Bashundhara Kings looked less organised, especially in defence, as the match went on but they regained the lead right before the hour-mark when Bakhtiyar, who played as a centre-back, headed home a cross from Daniel Colindres.

Mohammad Ibrahim and Jalal wasted two gilt-edged chances before Chennai City were reduced to nine  men in the 69th minute when Roberto Suarez got a second yellow card for a foul on Colindres.

The nine-man Chennai City, though, restored parity three minutes later, with Shereef acrobatically volleying home a miscued clearance from Nurul Nayeem Faisal, with goalkeeper Anisur Rahman was out of position.

While Chennai City tried to catch attacking Bashundhara Kings’ high line of defence on the break, the Bangladesh champions got the decisive goal on 88 minutes, Jalal smashing home a rebound after substitute forward Rabiul Hasan’s powerful shot was parried in front of goal by Chennai City keeper Nauzet Garcia Santana.

The goal may have got the Bangladesh champions across the line, but their unimpressive performance left a big question mark over their fate in the competition, with a must-win game against an impressive Terengganu FC scheduled for tomorrow.