It couldn’t get any closer. With just five rounds to go and only two points separating the top-three teams in the I-League.
It couldn’t get any closer. With just five rounds to go and only two points separating the top-three teams in the I-League, putting money on any of the teams would involve a big risk factor. And the last two rounds have thrown the race for the championship wide open, with Churchill Brothers coming to the fore thanks to the brilliance of Okolie Odafe.
Going by form and fitness, all three look inseparable and the only thing that may be the difference between them will be the willingness, or the more of it. Or if one wants to be a bit cynical, he might say that one who gets the best deal of the worst refereeing will eventually win.
This is nothing new in the I-League, but refereeing, it seems has touched a new low this season. Traditionalists may argue that ‘refereeing errors’ are a part of the game, but this aspect is a genuine concern, especially when one team is in sniffing distance of the other.
“Obviously it is one of the aspects which will be deciding on who wins the league. There have been some very poor decisions. But we will give our best shot and then hope of the ‘other’ factors going our way,” said Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencharifa.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) conducted workshops for referees during the mid season break but the results are not all that flattering. “What is the point of having such workshops if there are no results?” Bencharifa asked.
Recently Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said that referee Dinesh Nair should not officiate matches involving the Mariners after some controversial decision in their match against East Bengal.
Churchill coach Zoran Djordjevic hopes his side isn’t at the receiving end. “We play a very important match today, and here on till the end of the league. And you don’t want to lose out because of some poor decisions. Agreed that they (referees) are human beings and they make mistakes but not at this stage, please,” he said.
But not many club officials have written to the AIFF. “What more can we do? We have raised this topic so many times but it falls on deaf ears,” said one of the officials of a leading club.
It might be a non-issue for many but on field, it is the most important thing, of course after the performance of the teams. And when season is as tight as this one, this would be the last things any of the clubs would want.
Bloopers:
Many a times, referees have not noticed their assistants while making off-side decisions and carrying on with the game instead, much to the anger of the teams.
Poor advantage played sometimes, while many a times, they have failed to stop the play over a harsh tackle.
A miffed Churchill Brothers’ patron Churchill expressed his displeasure over poor refereeing by throwing the papers on match commissioner JP Singh’s desk.
Crucial match today
As the Round 18 of the I-league kicks off in Margaon on Wednesday, Churchill Brothers will host Mohun Bagan in the opening encounter. Both Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan have 33 points in their kitty but the Goan outfit is placed second on the goal difference. But the onus is on Mohun Bagan, who still have a match, and a win will place them on the top of the table with 36 points.
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