Antonio Habas: Playing a match against such refereeing is impossible

The boss opened up and didn't hold back in his criticism of the official for the game.

ATK and Antonio Habas squandered their top spot to FC Goa in a top-of-the-table clash, as the Gaurs prevailed in a tight game. It was a six-minute skirmish where three goals were scored, but unfortunately, the telling goal didn't come from ATK. Ferran Corominas stroked in the winner just two minutes after Jobby Justin had evened out Mourtada Fall's opener on the hour mark.

It was expected to be an exciting contest between two high-scoring and in-form teams in the ISL, but instead turned out to be a cagey affair, despite the home team dominating almost every stat on the night.

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ATK head coach Antonio Habas expressed his disappointment at the result and admitted that his players were second-best on the night, but was rather more intent on lamenting the performance of match referee Umesh Bora.

Habas was not at all pleased at the refereeing and went in on the referee saying, "I think in the match, the referee was impossible for us. He didn't permit anything, didn't allow anything. Right from the first minute, it was yellow card after yellow card. Playing a match with such refereeing is impossible. I'm absolutely disappointed with the referee."

Not only players, but Habas' assistant Manuel Cascallana was also shown a yellow for dissent. "The referee was having different criteria. If Goa did fouls they were not penalized, if we did something we were. We have been quiet about this for two months, so we had to speak about it."

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The comments from Habas are the latest in the campaign of the tirade against refereeing standards in India's premier league and it only seems to be getting worse as the season progresses.

As for progress, ATK will travel to Hyderabad to face the tottering Nizams next Saturday, whereas high-flying Goa will play at home against Odisha FC next Sunday.