Decisive match left incomplete

Club officials and players once again demonstrated 'unsporting attitude' on the pitch to leave the last and decisive match of the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League between Mariner Young's Club and Mohammedan incomplete at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

The match lasted 44 minutes, with the two sides tied 1-1 when the two Chinese umpires were forced to leave the field under police protection, leaving the fate of the match hanging in balance.

The controversy started with the equalising goal for Mariners in the second half, which Mohammedan decided to review. The review went against Mohammedan, who wasted time despite the umpires allowing both teams 10 minutes before re-start. 

Mohammedan players turned up for the restart after nearly 20 minutes but the Mariners players refused to play, claiming Mohammedan violated bylaws by taking more time than the stipulated 10 minutes.

Due to the stubbornness of club officials from both sides, the match remained unfinished.  The league committee secretary Kazi Moinuzzaman Pila said that he did not know the fate of the match, only the umpires and judges could tell about the fate of the match. Later in a statement, the federation said that a decision would be taken at the league committee meeting.

Mohammedan needed a single point from this match to regain the title after six years while defending champions Mariners needed full points to force the league into the playoffs.