India vs Nepal Women Football Controversy: Know All About SAFF Women's Championship Crowd Outburst in Kathmandu

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India vs Nepal women's football controversy: The SAFF Women’s Championship semi-final between India and Nepal in Kathmandu on October 27, 2024, turned into a chaotic affair due to controversial refereeing decisions and crowd unrest.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) took note of the incidents and expressed concern over the safety of the Indian players and staff. The AIFF plans to write to SAFF regarding the incidents, emphasizing the need to ensure such disruptions do not hinder the development of the sport in the region.

A similar situation had reportedly occurred in a previous U19 women’s match, raising questions over crowd management and officiating standards.

First Half Incident: Uncalled Penalty Stirs the Crowd

Tensions initially rose when a potential penalty for handball against an Indian player went uncalled in the first half. Nepal’s fans were visibly upset with the referee’s decision, which contributed to a heated atmosphere inside the packed stadium. This was only the beginning of the chaos that would later unfold in the match.

Second Half Controversy: Rekha Poudel’s Dismissal

In the second half, controversy deepened as Nepal’s Rekha Poudel was issued a second yellow card and sent off. Video replays indicated she had cleanly won the ball, but the referee penalized her for what was deemed a high-footed challenge. This decision incensed the home crowd, leading them to throw bottles and other objects onto the pitch, which resulted in an 11-minute stoppage. Nepal’s players had to intervene and appeal for calm, while the team continued with only 10 players on the field.

Sangita Basfore’s Goal and Disallowed Response

The match reached another boiling point in the 70th minute when India’s Sangita Basfore scored, prompting jubilant celebrations. However, confusion ensued when the referee unexpectedly allowed Nepal to restart play while some Indian players were still out of position. Nepal capitalized and scored, but their goal was disallowed, with the officials citing that play had not been officially resumed. This led to fierce protests from both sides and reignited crowd anger, causing a second delay that extended the match by almost 70 minutes.

AIFF Statement and Fallout

In a statement, the AIFF expressed pride in the way India’s Senior Women’s National Team and staff maintained composure despite the trying circumstances. The federation stressed the importance of player and staff safety and indicated that it would raise the matter with SAFF to prevent such incidents in the future. The AIFF also acknowledged a similar incident during an U19 women’s match, underscoring the need for better crowd control and communication in high-stakes games.