Another match controversy

Published : 11:27 am  June 5, 2012 |  No comments so far  |     |   (6)  |  

Controversy surrounded yet again in another Holcim F A Cup third round match between Solid SC, Anuradhapura and St. Lucia's SC, Mannar played in Anuradhapura on Saturday.

Last week the result of the match between Pelicans and Upcountry Lions was held up by the FFSL as there were some confusions raised by the hill side club about foreign players turning up for the Rock City club.

The reports from Anuradhapura were contradictory as the officials of the clubs concerned were giving two separate pictures of the match.

The club from Mannar was leading 2-1 until the dying moments and they thought they would enter the fourth round with a win. But suddenly things changed and a penalty was awarded to Solid SC which was obliged and the score was level at 2-all at full time.

One official from Mannar club said that there was no reason for a penalty and everyone including the home side members were wondering why the penalty was awarded by the referee. The official also told in a telephone conversation that one of his defender’s who questioned against the decision to award a penalty was pulled down by the assistant referee and the referee walked away without going for the penalty tie-breakers. Meanwhile, one official from Anuradhapura club told that the club from the north refused to take the penalties and there was nothing wrong with the refereeing.

It is also understood that the secretary of the Mannar club had already requested the FFSL to have this match played at a neutral venue doubting the fairness of the refereeing. He also pointed out that the communication was nil as they could not understand the language of the referee and the referee too had the same problem with their language.

In a second round match played in Nuwara Eliya, UC grounds Young Birds SC beat Renown SC Hatton by 2 goals to 1 to enter the third round. Jeyaram Sanoj scored in the 8th and 62nd minutes for the winners while R. Sakthivel booted the goal five minutes away from half time.

Thunders SC Wattala scored an easy three-nil victory over Moragasmulla SC in the third round match played at Kelaniya FC on Sunday. Janaka Perera, Shanka Chameera and S. Samantha scored the goals for Moragasmulla.

In the other two matches played on Sunday Sun Rise Beruwella beat home rivals 3-2 on penalties after the match ended in a goalless draw at Aluthgama Zahira grounds. The other match too was decided on penalties. Middlesex SC beat Small Drayton SC Kotagala by 3-nil on penalties after a nil-all draw.

By Tony Mike