Player safety in question as Ankith Padmanabhan suffers an injury on waterlogged pitch during NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan clash

NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan SG was stopped for more than 30 minutes due to unsafe playing conditions.

The ISL clash between NorthEast United FC and Mohun Bagan SG, played on 19th April at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, ended in a 1-0 win for the Mariners. The match was full of confusion and controversy due to the heavy rain that left the ground heavily waterlogged.

A serious shoulder injury to Ankith Padmanabhan during NorthEast United FC vs Mohun Bagan SG has raised major concerns over player safety after the NorthEast United FC player was taken to the hospital with a shoulder dislocation on a heavily waterlogged pitch.

With dangerous weather conditions clearly affecting the surface, questions are now being asked over why the match was allowed to continue by referee Crystal John despite the evident risks.

Ankith Padmanabhan of @NEUtdFC on way to hospital after suffering a shoulder dislocation during the match against Mohun Bagan.Heavy rain had left the pitch waterlogged, with conditions clearly far from safe.Why was play allowed to resume under such circumstances?#Football pic.twitter.com/IvWOeU7uMC

— Abdul Gani (@imabdulgani) April 20, 2026

Referee’s decision under question

Despite many pitch inspections during the game, conditions showed little to almost no improvement. Large pits of stagnant water remained on the ground, making it nearly impossible for the ball to move naturally. The match even stopped for more than 30 mins after the first half. Passes held up in puddles while players repeatedly lost their balance and slipped repeatedly.

The continuation of play under such circumstances inevitably increased the risk of injuries especially for teams that are already struggling with their full squad balance, like NorthEast and that fear turned into reality with Ankith’s unfortunate injury.

Matches at such a level are expected to meet professional safety standards, yet this contest appeared to drift far from that, putting players in harm’s way with every passing minute.

The decisions of the entire match officials and referee Crystal John have now come under heavy scrutiny.

Controversy and safety questions

Mohun Bagan SG eventually secured a narrow 1-0 victory with the help of an early first-half goal from Robson, but the result itself has come under scrutiny.

Had the match been halted around the 60-minute mark when the conditions were already unplayable, the game would likely have ended in a draw, significantly altering the outcome with Mohun Bagan SG just getting a point out of it.

This has led to wider questions now. Was the decision to continue influenced by the stakes of the ISL title race, particularly involving Mohun Bagan SG and Mumbai City FC, as they are very close to the top spot in the table with barely a difference in points?

Adding to the tension, NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali was visibly furious after the final whistle, engaging in a heated argument with referee Crystal John over why the match was allowed to proceed at all. This resulted in him receiving a red card at the end of the match.

For Ankith Padmanabhan, the incident is even more concerning given his injury struggles last season. Situations like this only amplify the risks for players already managing fitness issues.

Ultimately, the match has left an unanswered question over the Indian Super League, is completing a fixture no matter the circumstances worth more than the safety of the players on the pitch?

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