The Hindu : Sport / Football : Fouls galore in drawn match

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 24, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

Fouls galore in drawn match

CHENNAI, JUNE 23. Nine-member Chennai Customs team held Indian Bank 1-1 to split points in an incident-filled CFA senior division super league match at the Nehru stadium on Wednesday.

The story was not just that but the way the contest went with fouls galore and the usual Referee-baiting. As such FIFA referee T. Pradeep Kumar had a busy time, bringing out the yellow card and twice the red card (both to Customs' players).

It is sad that players get charged up but for team officials to foam it up with their outbursts at match officials is something that has become a bane of the CFA league. Questioning the refereeing and imputing motives in their actions have become routine. That today the Match Commissioner, Chittibabu turned to the few office-bearers of the Association watching the proceedings and expressed his discontentment highlights the gravity of the situation.

Within the first quarter itself, the mood of the contest was set with Customs picking up two bookable offences. Almost at the stroke of half time, Customs' Robin Joseph, for touching the ball to gain advantage, earned his second yellow card for an automatic red. That charged up emotions even though action remained prosaic.

Midway of second session, Bank's Harish, still to find rhythm, tested rival goalkeeper Anilkumar but the latter responded well. However in the 76th minutr, Gregory Clark's accurate shot from 35 yards put the Bank ahead.

Soon Customs' Ravichandran, paid for arguing, with a red card punishment. Customs was now down to nine men but playing with vigour, remarkably found the equaliser (86th) through substitute J. Rajan's snap but deft shot to Felix's right. With one more outing to go for each, Customs is on seven points and Indian Bank on five.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport