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Scuffle? I didn't see anything: Chennaiyin FC coach

Tempers flared after the Indian Super League match between Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC. John Gregory, CFC coach, claims he didn't see anything

By Aravind
Bengaluru FC's Harmanjot Khabra in a tussle for possession with Chennaiyin FC's Dhanapal Ganesh (Image courtesy: ISL Media)

Bengaluru, December 17: Tempers flared after the Indian Super League match between Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC ended with the visitors snatching three points from Albert Roca's men at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Dhanapal Ganesh scores winnerDhanapal Ganesh scores winner

Chennaiyin FC players interrupted Sunil Chhetri when the BFC skipper confronted referee Raktim Saha over some poor decisions during the game. A couple of players got involved and a scuffle broke out on the pitch seconds after Chennai's 2-1 win.

Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca, while admitting there was an unnecessary incident on the pitch, called on his players to relax. "Sometimes we have to relax a bit and for sure, it has been a derby-like atmosphere," Roca said. "Everybody wants to win and it's a shame (that we couldn't). I think it was (Gregory) Nelson or the Brazilian guy (Raphael Augustine). They won but they have to know how to respect the opponents and it's a shame (that a fight broke out). For them and even us, whether we win or lose, we have to maintain the same attitude. It's not nice losing in front of your home fans but when someone is coming to laugh at your face, (it's bad). Everyone needs to understand it's just a game. Sometimes you lose. But mocking your opponent is not the professional attitude that a player is supposed to have."

Dhanapal Ganesh scored a dramatic winner for CFC, who took the lead in the 5th minute of the game through Jeje Lalpekhlua. Even though BFC equalised through Sunil Chhetri, Chennaiyin FC had the last laugh.

Even though Roca pointed fingers at a couple of Chennaiyin FC players, CFC manager John Gregory said he was unaware of a scuffle after the match. "I didn't see it, so I can't really comment on it," he said during the post-match press conference on Sunday (December 17). "There was lot of passion on the pitch. Obviously that's because we managed to score the winner. I didn't see what went on though."

This, after claiming that there were some over-the-top celebrations from the players. "It was a derby," Gregory said. "Everyone was getting upset, angry and over-celebrating sometimes. This is what happens when you have a game that means a lot to everyone. All in all, we are happy with three points."

Roca was unhappy with the standard of refereeing in the ISL, but reserved his comments for some other time.

Captain Chhetri was brought down at the edge of the box by Chennaiyin FC's Inigo Calderon. The referee, while rubbishing BFC's claims, awarded Chennaiyin FC a free-kick at the other end soon after, which led to the winner.

BFC were denied a double substitution when Subhasish Bose and Braulio Nobrega were both supposed to come on together for Nishu Kumar and John Johnson. As soon as Nobrega entered the pitch in the 73rd minute, the referee resumed play and Bose had to wait for five minutes to come on. This, while allowing Chennaiyin FC to make a substitution (Rene Mihelic for Raphael Augusto) in between.

Roca, however, said the referees did their best. "Come on you know, I think I have to be relaxed also," he said. "Otherwise I have to talk about that. I think they have to try and do their best. They have tried today. As a coach today, I can't understand their decisions in some of those situations. It's better for me not to talk about that. Otherwise, I will say something that's not correct. They are also humans in the end. They make errors. The refereeing is something that you have to talk about."

Story first published: Sunday, December 17, 2017, 21:22 [IST]
Other articles published on Dec 17, 2017