Josep Gombau hits out at referee after Mumbai City play briefly with 12 players

The Juggernauts' head coach also called for improvements in refereeing standards.

Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC locked horns in the Mumbai Football Arena in both the teams' second game of the season. Both the teams played some good football and exhibited good moves. In the end, it was the Islanders who had the last laugh. Odisha FC head coach Josep Gombau reflected on the result in the post-match press conference.

Certain developments during the game seemed to have agitated him, which was quite evident in the presser also. Excerpts from the press conference are given below.

Overall quality of the game

Josep Gombau was quite impressed with Mumbai City's gameplay today. At the same time, he said that Odisha also had its moments and he was impressed with the quality of the game. He said, "The game was a very good game. For me, the second goal in the extra time when were chasing the game was bad luck.

"It was a game in which we had our chances. In their moments Mumbai City had more control and in our moments we had more control. I think it was a nice football game."

Why he was agitated with the referee?

Asked why he was so agitated on the touchline, Josep Gombau elaborated on the reason. He stated that it was not the officials' decisions that made him angry, but a form of ignorance on their part. He said, "The referees, in all these actions, didn't have any bad decisions. My complaint came because in one moment, for thirty seconds, Mumbai City played with 12 men on the field. After the substitution, the (substituted) player was supposed to go outside the field. I don't know why he did not go out.

"My complaint was, when we were playing, we saw that they are playing with 12 men. Now, I don't know the regulation. I am asking for the regulation because, in football, the first rule is to play 11 against 11. They beat us on the field.

"But, they did a violation of the rules of football. (Maybe) by mistake. But it is not my mistake, it is their mistake. And this is what I am trying to inform the guys of the Indian Super League and the referees. They were all over the place and they couldn't answer my questions."

Further elaboration on Mumbai City FC playing with 12 men

Gombau seemed furious about Mumbai City FC playing with 12 men and continued to further elaborate his stand on that aspect. He said, "If we want that people around the world take us seriously, we need to act seriously. And on the ground, I did not find anyone to answer my questions seriously. This is my complaint.

"Not any complaints towards the referees, their job is done. Just this (Mumbai playing with 12 players), for me, is a very big problem. In all the years that I am working on football, I never saw in my life a team playing with 12 men. And today, this happened here."

[KH_ADWORDS type="2" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS]

On how such issues and the overall quality of officiating can be improved in the league

In reply to a follow-up question probing how such issues should be addressed, Josep Gombau asserted that the league needs full-time referees. He emphasised the importance of having full-time referees and how it can help the league grow. He quoted, "There is something that I say always, if you really want to have quality referees, these guys need to be professionals.

"If they are not professional, if they have to do other things during the week, how will they improve? Today, we put a mirror for everybody. What do they (referees) do in the week to be better? They do nothing because it is not their job. Thanks to them that they come. It is so difficult to referee a game.

"If you try, you will understand it is so difficult. But if they are professionals, tomorrow, or on Monday, they read a game and they also make different actions. If someone is helping them, these guys can be very good."

Why he addressing the incident in the press conference

While continuing to talk about the incident and how the overall quality of officiating can be improved, Josep Gombau asserted that concealing such faults will not help anybody. He further said that that is the reason he is talking about the incident in the presser. He quoted, "Everybody makes mistakes, no problem. But today, there was a violation of the rules of football. And if someone says to my questions, 'Josep, this is not a violation', I will apologise.

"But what they are trying to say is don't say anything in the press conference, nobody should know this. I came to this country to help in the growth of football, to help young players, and to help the league grow. And if I say nothing of these, how can I help anyone? I am trying to help the referees."