Massive controversy after MDFA league game ends in mass brawl

The incident took place during a game between Mumbai City FC and Karnataka Sporting Association.

The reserve team of Mumbai City FC lost to Karnataka Sporting Association in an MDFA Elite Division match at the Neville D’Souza Ground in Bandra on Wednesday. Following the game, the Mumbai City staffs were involved in a scuffle with match officials and accordingly a case has been filed against them at the Bandra Police Station.

It has been learnt that a member from the team management named Qadeer Shaikh spat on the linesman, Umesh Patel.  In turn, Patel raised the corner flag in self-defense and the Mumbai City officials thought of it as retaliation. Shatanu Sansui was the referee officiating the game, while Patel and Viraj McKoane were his assistants. Rishikesh Misale was the fourth official in the contest. The members of the Islanders' team management allegedly beat up the referees, following which the officials had to run away and call for help from the police.

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Following the tussle, Mumbai City FC issued a statement that said, “The club has taken cognizance of the incident that took place earlier today after the MDFA Elite Division fixture between Mumbai City FC and Karnataka Sportsing Association. The matter is being looked into by the club and appropriate action will be taken after thorough investigation.”

Sudhakar Rane is the general secretory of the MDFA and he chose to give a rather diplomatic response on the issue. “We have not got the report yet. The incident took place after the match ended. The whole picture is not clear. We are trying to communicate with the match officials and we are waiting for their report,” he said.

This case is likely to take legal turns now, as further emphasized by Vijayalaxmi Hiremath, who is the senior police inspector of the Bandra Police Station. “The Mumbai City team assaulted and abused the referee. A case has been registered by the affected referee and it is a non-cognizable offence under Section 223 and 504,” he remarked.

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The MDFA Referee Board is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the situation and have advised the officials to refrain from conducting matches for the time being. Their demands could possibly comprise of an increase in the security given to referees to avoid a repeat of any such incidents. For the time being, the city’s footballing action has come to a halt due to this protest and it remains to be seen what move the police and the association come up with to resolve the crisis.