ISL 2018: Bengaluru FC owner unhappy with refereeing, asks AIFF for VAR
What's the story?
Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal was furious with several decisions taken by the referee during the final of the Indian Super League and informed that the club will write officially to the All India Football Federation to take actions so that such things do not occur in the future.
In case you didn't know...
Bengaluru FC were beaten by Chennayin FC in the final of the ISL at the Shree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday with a score line of 2-3. Sunil Chhetri’s 9th-minute strike put the hosts ahead, but the lead was nullified in the 17th minute by Mailson Alves.
The Brazilian defender completed his brace on the 45th minute to take the lead. The Super Machans sealed the deal in the 67th minute via a Raphael Augusto strike to make it 3-1. Bengaluru pulled one back via a Miku goal, but it was too late by then.
The heart of the matter
Parth Jindal tweeted expressing his grief on certain decisions taken by the referee during the match. First, he thought that Udanta Singh’s disallowed goal was clearly not an offside. Then, Nishu Kumar should have gotten a penalty, according to the Bengaluru FC owner.
These two decisions may have overturned the fate of the match and Bengaluru FC could have easily won their maiden ISL title.
Nishu Kumar was brought down by Inigo Calderon inside the box, but the referee waved "play on". Replays suggested that the decision could just as easily have gone the other way. Jindal admitted that the loss was “really tough” to take.
What's next?
Many questions have been raised over the quality of refereeing in both the Indian Super League and the I-League this season. Introduction of the VAR (Video Assistant Referees) is a way forward to keep a check on the wrong decisions during crucial matches. Although the technology is relatively new, it is the only solution!
Author's take
With the Indian Super Cup around the corner, it is unlikely that the VAR will be introduced before that, but the AIFF can at least make an effort to employ the best in the business ahead of the crucial matches. Having said that, the referees are human, after all, and must not be taken to the task for split-second decisions.