ISL 2016: Fans and player violence after Kerala Blasters game mars celebrations
The World’s most followed game can sometimes turn ugly. While there have been a lot of ugly incidents both on and off the field between players over the years, supporters have also been involved in their share of action in the past. Something similar happened in the final league match of the ISL on 4th December, a game which the Kerala Blasters FC won against the NorthEast United FC 1-0 courtesy a CK Vineeth goal.
Blasters inarguably have the best home support and things turned a little ugly last night. The Highlanders were up against the team which reached the finals in the first season of ISL and both were vying for the fourth spot in the knockout phases. While the game ended in favour of the home team, all was not peaceful among the fans and the players.
Some reports have stated that influential NorthEast midfielder Romaric went after the referee after the final whistle, only for the security to control the situation.
Also read: ISL 2016: Kerala Blasters 1-0 North East United - 5 Talking Points
While the last story is more about speculation, the next one has commendable proof to it. NorthEast United fans broke chairs and bottles and threw them on the pitch after the game, affecting its condition drastically. The ground is entitled to host the first leg of the semi-finals against the high-flying Delhi Dynamos on 11th of December and the finals on 18th December. With such sort of drama, the managing committee surely has a task on its hands to organise an event of such high magnitude.
On being asked, both the clubs restrained to comment on this event. Ironically, this isn’t the first time something similar has happened in the Indian Super League. In last year’s final, Chennaiyin FC had faced FC Goa on the home ground of the Gaurs. The visitors had defeated the home team 3-2 after some wonderful play from their Columbian striker Stiven Mendoza, who had given a lot of difficulty to the home side.
It all turned ugly after the final whistle as the players fought it out in the tunnel, with Chennaiyin FC marquee player Elano Blumer even taken to a police station. The Brazilian was fined and never came back to play on Indian shores.
While we hope no such incident happens in the future of the Indian Super League, there are times when things do get a little out of hand. With the final being held at the Kochi Stadium, the managing team will be keeping its fingers crossed and hoping it all goes well – not just on the pitch, but off it too.
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