Aizawl Football Club played its deciding I-League match against Shillong Lajong under protest due to the appointment of match officials from Bengal
Aizawl Football Club played its deciding I-League match against Shillong Lajong under protest due to the appointment of match officials from Bengal.
Aizawl Football Club lodged a complaint with AIFF against the appointment, saying it was "unfair" since the other title contenders Mohun Bagan are also playing a crucial match in Chennai at the same time. "All the match officials — the referee, the two linesmen and the fourth referee — are from West Bengal. Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan are title contenders.
'Unfair and unbecoming'
"It is unfair and unbecoming of the AIFF to appoint match officials from Bengal for this match involving my club," Aizawl FC owner Robert Royte said. In fact, we had written on April 17 to the AIFF not to appoint any match official belonging to the Northeast and Bengal for the last two rounds of the I-League involving Aizawl and Bagan. Despite that written submission, we came to know this afternoon that all the match officials of our match today are from Bengal," he added. Royte said that he filed a complaint in the afternoon itself but for the "good of India football" his club decided to play the match "under protest".
ADVERTISEMENT
Arrived with a request
"Some top officials from the AIFF came to my hotel in Shillong and requested to play the match and promised that they will ensure that there was fair play on the field. So, we have decided to play the match under protest," he said.
Aizawl had beaten Bagan 1-0 in Aizawl in the previous match. Till that match, both were on equal points.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
