Title - Referee spoils Super League final

Referee spoils Super League final
GUWAHATI, Sept 13 – With only three minutes remaining in the match, NF Railway Sports Club earned a flag kick. Sibra Narzary took the shot and the ball was cleared by Navajyoti defender Jessy Lalruatpuia. But the Railway players gheraoed referee PK Mohanty and claimed that the ball was handled by the defender. Gradually the pressure became more on the referee and he finally decided to consult his assistant on the line G Suresh Kumar who perhaps opined positively. Finally the referee awarded a spot kick to the railwaymen.
Chaos followed as the Navajyoti players hit back at referee’s decision and refused to continue. After waiting for around 15 minutes the referee finally called the match off. Later the GSA officials revealed that the fate of the match will be decided on referee’s report.

Earlier, Navajyoti, riding on a beautiful goal by wing back K Lalchhanhima in the 45th minute, were leading in the match and were advancing to be the GSA Super League champions as they needed a victory in the last match against NF Railway. But the referee played spoilsport with a poor decision in the final moments. Otherwise, both Mohanty and Kumar conducted their previous matches in a satisfactory way. They showed tremendous confidence in their previous Super League matches and Mohanty was rightly chosen as referee for the crucial encounter. Both the referees and the assistant referee are from Orissa.

Today, at the crucial juncture, he should have stuck to his decision to overlook the handball made by the Navajyoti defender. He made the mistake by consulting with his assistant referee who earlier did not raise his flag to indicate a handball. Otherwise, it was a decent and exciting encounter, dominated by the Railway players. Their strikers – Chayaram Basumatary, Jelender Brahma, Duleswar Rabha and Sibra Narzary – were a constant threat to the Navajyoti defenders with their darting runs and dribbles.

The Navajyoti defenders were a little bit sloppy throughout the course but the Railway attackers failed to make good use of the scoring opportunities. However, Navajyoti goalkeeper Subhajit Barman should be praised for his tremendous show under the bar. He saved his team atleast on five occasions. Due to his acrobatic show, the Railway frontliners failed to convert the openings into goals. The Navajyoti goal was a result of an effective counter attack. After Railway striker Chayaram Basumatary failed to beat the opponent goalkeeper in a point blank situation, Lalchhanhima made a solo run down the left flank and sent the ball into the opponent’s box. However, the ball was cleared with a feeble push and finding it again the wing back unleashed a left-footer from 35 yards. The ball gently sailed into the Railway goal deceiving the advancing goalkeeper. The incident also spoilt host GSA’s closing function for which they had invited Kamrup Metro DC Ashutosh Agnihotri. The DC immediately left the stadium witnessing the chaotic scene. It was obviously a disappointing moment for the GSA officials.