06 February,2012 11:38 AM IST | | Vivek Ajinkya
Priya Darshini Park FC walked out with two minutes remaining on the clock during the Mumbai District Football Association's Super Division match against Intelenet at Goan Sports Association Ground, Marine Lines yesterday.
PDP, who were trailing 1-2, cited poor officiating as the reason behind their actions. The teams played the match without medical supervision.u00a0
PDP saved a penalty but conceded twice in the first half. They managed to pull one back in the second but had one player sent off for a rash challenge and one for allegedly attacking the referee.
PDP players were unhappy with the referee's decisions throughout, especially the penalty decision and the first sending offu00a0-- minutes after which 32-year-old Irshad Sheikh lost his cool and allegedly got physical with the referee. Referee Louis Fernandes did not hesitate in giving Sheikh his marching orders after which PDP players decided to walk out.u00a0u00a0
Referee Fernandes said: "I was watching the ball when he elbowed me in my neck. It is the first time such a thing is happening to me in my career."u00a0
PDP coach Fenny Fernandes vented his fury at the ref. "The refu00a0 made bad decisions. The first sending off was not worthy of red. We will be writing a formal complaint to MDFA," he told MiD DAY. Referee Fernandes stood by his decisions: "Both sending offs were deserved. And the first was a serious foul."
Intelenet manager Theodore Caldeira said his team wasn't too happy with the officiating either. "Officiating was hurting both the teams. We had a penalty disallowed."
MDFA secretary Souter Vaz said: "We will hold a disciplinary meeting once we get the report. We will then think about necessary action."
