SINGAPORE: Singapore's football body has given strong backing to a referee accused of bias after Afghanistan's controversial loss in the South Asian Football Federation final, a report said Wednesday.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said it would make a complaint about Afghanistan's claims against Singaporean referee Sukhbir Singh after Sunday's game, which hosts India won 4-0 partly due to a disputed penalty.
“We will be bringing up our concerns to the attention of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regarding the unfortunate comments reportedly made by Afghanistan officials towards Sukhbir that questioned his integrity and impartiality,” a FAS spokesman said, according to the Straits Times.
Afghanistan held the defending champions at 0-0 until the 71st minute in New Delhi, when India's Jeje Lalpekhlua was brought down in the box and goalkeeper Hameedullah Yousufzari was sent off for arguing.
Sunil Chhetri converted the penalty and India then seized the opportunity to score twice in as many minutes through Clifford Miranda and Jeje, before Sushil Singh netted the fourth goal in injury time.
“India played well but I have to say that the referee was partial to them. I don't know whether he is a Sikh or a Hindu but he supported them (India),”Afghanistan's coach Yusuf Kargar was reported as saying in India Today.
“We shall write to AFC on the incident and ask how such a young and inexperienced referee was appointed to officiate in the final. His judgment cost us the game.”
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