Western Union Senior Division Football League
Babu makes it a boxing match!
Sports Reporter
Ugly scenes re-surfaced once again in the Western Union Premier Division football league as a linesman was punched out of the game during yesterday's fixture between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium that ended in a goalless stalemate. The incident happened in the 64th minute when an estranged Mohammedan manager Amirul Islam Babu, who is a known troublemaker, landed punches on assistant referee Mahbubur Rahman after a goal against Sheikh Russell had been disallowed for foul. The shocking event brought back memories of the January 15 fiasco between Mohammedan and Muktijoddha Sangsad where the Black and Whites players and officials launched another shameful attack on match officials demanding cancellation of a goal. Last night Mohammedan thought they had scored when veteran forward Farhad scrambled the ball into the net after Russell's custodian Biplob failed to gather it properly. However linesman Rahman already had his flag up indicating that Farhad had fouled Biblob before scoring and referee Abdur Rakib ruled in Sheikh Russell's favour. As Mohammedan players protested near the touchline, their manager Babu suddenly ran towards the linesman and blatantly struck two blows on his face and walked away as if nothing had happened. Play was stopped for eleven minutes as Rahman was forced to leave the ground with blood oozing from his nose. He didn't return leaving fourth referee Ibrahim Nessar to stand in for him for the remainder of the game. The draw was another sorry result for Mohammedan who are all but out of contention for making a challenge for the title. The defending champions now languish in sixth position in the 10-team table with 14 points from 11 matches. Season's surprise package Sheikh Russell are in fourth spot on 19 points from 11 games. Mohammedan had more clear-cut chances in the match. Farhad spoiled the first opportunity in the 22nd minute when he failed to make contact with Cameroon recruit Olinga's cross from the right with an open net beckoning. Olinga's compatriot Eitgo then saw his header from close range brilliantly fisted away for a corner by Biplob in the 41st minute. Sheikh Russell's Moroccan forward Hadi muffed the best chance for his team when he lost control of the ball in front of the goal in the 33rd minute. Yellow cards: Narayan, Milan (Sheikh Russell) and Basala (Mohammedan) TEAMS SHEIKH RUSSELL: Biplob, Kamal, Narayan, Rezaul, Burdeep, Jahangir, Asif, Abdel, Hadi, Yunus and Milan. MOHAMMEDAN SC: Bijon, Jewel Rana, Faisal, Basala, Kaiser, Amin Rana (Nakib), Olinga, Afala, Bakhtiar, Farhad (Monju) and Etigo. Referee: Abdur Rakib.
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