June 23, 2003	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, June 22: Aga Khan Gymkhana scored a 3-1 victory in a match marred by blatant violation of rules and misconduct by Bhutta Mohammadan in the KASB Premier League on Sunday.

The game turned ugly late in the first half when furious Bhutta Mohammadan players surrounded referee Yousuf Habib protesting over his decision at Aga Khan Gymkhana ground.

Bhutta Mohammadan claimed Yousuf let their opponents take the 30th-minute free kick although the ball was in rolling and did not whistle before the kick was taken.

Subsequently, Aga Khan Gymkhana’s Wazir Ali scored what was his side’s second goal from an angular shot after being deliberately pulled by Bhutta Mohammadan goalkeeper Basit Ali.

Yousuf, however, did not reverse his decision despite being attacked and harassed by Bhutta Mohammadan players but refrained from showing any red card which he should have.

It became free for all when surprisingly organising secretary Nazeer Khan, his son Qaiser Khan and Bhutta Mohammadan supporters entered the field to press Yousuf to take his decision back.

A number of officials, including match commissioner Liaquat Hussain and quite a few unauthorized persons, invaded the pitch to control the situation.

The entire Bhutta Mohammadan team sat in their own half in protest while Yousuf waited to re-start the match which should have been abandoned. Instead, the referee whistled for halftime after the game remained stopped for at least five minutes.

Bhutta Mohammadan and their fans kept on threatening Yousuf during the break on the sidelines. Two of their players, brothers Mahmood and Shahid Ghazi, even attempted to attack the referee while hurling abuse but were prevented to do so by the officials.

Yet there was neither marching orders for the offending players nor the game was abandoned after the pandemonium and violent conduct by the players and even officials.

Instead, the game continued and second half was also played in which both sides netted once.

“His (Yousuf’s) decision was completely wrong. He should not have allowed the rolling ball to be kicked. And it was not a goal as Aga Khan Gymkhana player was off-side,” Nazeer, who also claims to be chairman of Bhutta Mohammadan, claimed.

“There is no rule that referee should blow the whistle before a free kick. Their protest was totally wrong,” Yousuf said.

Mahmood and Shahid, nevertheless, verbally apologised to Yousuf after the end of the game.

Officials said the technical committee headed by Ali Nawaz Baloch would take a decision after the report from match commissioner.

Earlier, Aga Khan Gymkhana opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Nizamuddin headed home from close range a perfect Wazir cross from the right flank.

Aga Khan Gymkhana went 2-0 ahead when Wazir booted the controversial second goal despite being pulled off by Basit. Aga Khan Gymkhana might have been awarded a penalty kick had Yousuf not given Wazir an advantage.

Shah Nawaz found the cage for Bhutta Mohammadan in the 53rd minute to score the consolation goal. Nizam wasted a golden opportunity when fed by Hussain Magoni as Bhutta Mohammadan stand-in goalkeeper Nawab Khan saved his effort in the 59th minute.

Mohammad Ashraf, the player of the match, lobbed the ball to score the third in the 60th minute, while his 65th-minute rising drive went across the goal.

Hyderi Baloch are still at the top of the standings with 12 points after the completion of fourth round followed by Baloch Mohammadan and Karachi United.

Fifth round fixtures:

June 26: Karachi United v Nawab XI

June 27: Hyderi Baloch v Mekran Sports

June 28: Usmanabad Union v Baloch Mohammadan

June 29: Aga Khan Gymkhana v LLWC; Bhutta Mohammadan v Pakistan Petroleum.

Standings after fourth round (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Hyderi Baloch 4 4 0 0 12 2 12

Baloch Mohammadan 4 3 1 0 9 3 10

Karachi United 4 2 1 1 6 6 7

LLWC 4 2 0 2 9 5 6

Usmanabad Union 4 2 0 2 3 4 6

Aga Khan Gymkhana 4 1 2 1 5 5 5

Nawab XI 4 1 1 2 1 2 4

Pakistan Petroleum 4 1 1 2 2 5 4

Mekran Sports 4 1 0 3 2 6 3

Bhutta Mohammadan 4 0 0 4 2 13 0