Bengaluru FC players watch as the Kerala Blasters FC team walk off the field during their ISL play-off match in Bengaluru on March 3, 2023. Photo credits: K. Murali Kumar
Kerala Blasters FC on Friday courted a huge controversy when the team decided to pull out of their all-important ISL play-off tie against Bengaluru FC in protest against Sunil Chhetri’s controversial strike.
The Blues will now take on League Shield winners Mumbai City FC in a two-legged semi-final on March 7 and 12, starting with the away trip.
After a goalless stalemate during regular time at the Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru FC took the lead in the 97th minute when the Indian captain converted a free-kick.
But the strike led to a full play as the Adrian Luna-led side protested referee Crystal John’s decision to declare it a legal goal, also claiming that he did not blow the whistle before Chhetri took the kick and the players were ready. were not ,
This was followed by an unprecedented walk-out, a first in the ISL where Serbian coach Ivan Vukomanovic called back his players. Luna was seen taking off her captain’s arm-band and her comrades followed their captain.
By virtue of their extra-time lead, Bengaluru FC were declared winners as they travel to the Mumbai City Arena for the semi-finals on Tuesday.
“I have never seen anything like this in my 22-year career.
This is not the right way to do it,” Chhetri reacted to KBFC’s walk-out.
On the controversial freekick, he said: “I always ask the referee because if he doesn’t allow it, it won’t happen.
“It was a bitter-sweet moment. At first we thought whether the match would happen or not. But I am happy that we have reached the semi-finals. Can’t wait to face Mumbai.”
Regarding the goal, Chhetri said that he followed the normal rules during direct free-kicks, during which it is not mandatory for the referee to whistle if the player has already sought permission.
After the match, Chhetri told the broadcasters, “The referee asked me whether I want a wall or a whistle. They always do that. I said I don’t want both a whistle and a wall.”
The forfeiture and walk out cost the Blasters dearly as they could face heavy sanctions from league officials.
Such an instance was first seen during the Kolkata derby in I-League 2012 when Mohun Bagan walked off the field and refused to leave the field in the second half after spectators threw stones at their winger Syed Rahim Nabi from the East Bengal Stand. Had given.
The Blasters dominated the first half but could not get past Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the Bengaluru FC goal.
The Blues were content to play on the counter, relying on the quick feet of Roy Krishna and Sivasakthi Narayanan.
The hosts had six shots in the first half, but only one on target.
Three minutes after the half-hour mark, Danish Farooq’s superb header from a corner missed an unmarked Victor Mongil at the far post, before going over the flag against the defender.
The second half was much the same, as the visitors kept more of the ball and waited for the hosts to launch on counter.
The Blasters had a chance to test the keeper through a free kick in the 53rd minute but Luna saved it.
Around the hour mark, Suresh Wangjam’s effort from outside the box flew through traffic and was palmed back by Gill for a corner.
In the final quarter of the match, the Blasters pressed further up the pitch, but the Bengaluru FC defense held their shape to contain the attacks.
Dimitrios Diamantakos had his team’s first shot on target in the 83rd minute but Sandhu comfortably claimed his header before the game went into extra time.
In the first minute of extra time, Rahul KP tried his luck from range as his shot took a flick off Luna and went inches wide of the far post. Bengaluru FC responded quickly at the other end as Bruno Ramires took his head for a corner but sent it over the bar.
In the seventh minute of extra time, a quickly taken free kick by Chhetri flew into the back of the net.
But the Blasters began to protest, saying that referee John signaled the Blues to take a free-kick because they were unprepared to defend as the situation turned into chaos.
The match was forfeited after the Blasters disagreed with the decision, and Bengaluru FC secured their ninth consecutive win.