12th MSL comes to a grinding halt ; Referees not to conduct matches from today
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 10 2017:
Taking strong exception to the assault of a referee by supporters of Sagolband United (SU), after the team was walloped by NEROCA FC 3-0 in the going 12th Manipur State League, the Football Referees’ Welfare Committee has decided not to conduct any matches from tomorrow .
Strongly responding to the unprovoked assault, the Football Referees’ Welfare Association in a statement issued to the press today said that a referee who conducted the match between NEROCA FC and SU at Mapal Kangjeibung was assaulted by SU supporters led by its president RK Momocha while the referee was walking back to the dressing room .
Not satisfied with this, the SU supporters chased the referee right through the tunnel and assaulted him in the middle of the play ground, said the committee .
There were no adequate officials from All Manipur Football Association to control the situation, said the referees and added that the SU supporters were given a free hand for a long time in the middle of the play ground .
This is unacceptable, added the committee .
Situation has come to such a pass that it is no longer safe for referees to conduct matches freely in the ongoing 12th Manipur State League, said the referees and urged all football fans to understand their plight .
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMW-JU) has also condemned the manner in which journalists covering the 12th MSL match today were subjected to such inconveniences after the match between SU and NEROCA FC .
Some of the assailants tried to snatch the cameras of the journalists who were covering the match between the two said teams.
AMWJU also said that it condemns the act of preventing journalists from properly performing their duties during the Panchayat election on October 7 .