Kings sans Bruzon in must-win game
Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings will play their must-win game against Terengganu FC of Malaysia today without their tempestuous coach Oscar Bruzon in the dug-out.
The Spanish coach raged out the technical area and went towards the opposition dug-out following a foul on one of his players by a Chennai City player, provoking a heated response from his opposite number Akbar Nawas. Both coaches were expelled from the dug-out after that and, on analysing the referee’s and match commissioner’s reports, the disciplinary committee of the tournament, chaired by Mezbah Uddin, handed one-match suspension to both coaches. In absence of Bruzon, assistant coach Mahbub Hossain Roxy would stand in the dug-out against table-toppers Terengganu FC. The team management is expecting to fortify the defence which has been a cause for worry for the Bangladesh Premier League champions, who conceded five goals against four goals in two matches.
Bruzon though, did not cool down despite his suspension as the Chennai City team officials claimed the Spaniard used abusive words in Spanish against some of their players on the morning after the match at the team hotel, a claim admitted to by a member of the technical staff of Bashundhara Kings.
“The coach did not do the right thing by charging out of his technical area. He realised that and lamented his reaction afterwards,” the Bashundhara Kings official said.
Bruzon, who coached a few clubs in India, has a history of such behaviour as he had tried to assault a referee during a Bangladesh Premier League match against Team BJMC in Noakhali last season.
Meanwhile, Chennai City’s Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa, who kicked the fourth official’s desk and tried to assault referee Lakmal Weerakkody after the Sri Lankan allegedly used a racial remark against the player, has been handed a two-match suspension by the committee.
The Japanese midfielder, however, defended his action, saying he lost his cool after being targeted with a racial remark by the referee.
“I was standing with my back to the referee, with the ball in my hand. The referee suddenly said, ‘China’. I looked back at him and he had a smile on his face. He could see my shirt number and my name, but he didn’t call me by either, instead calling me ‘China’,” Katsumi told reporters at the team hotel yesterday.
The midfielder, who played for Mohun Bagan and East Bengal before moving to Chennai City, said he felt betrayed by the actions of someone who is supposed to be neutral.
“I had taken verbal abuse from fans a lot, especially during derby matches in Kolkata. Even opposition players say a lot of things, but that is different. I never thought of getting this from a referee, who is supposed to be neutral and a partner of the players.
“I went to the dressing room and sat there, crying. I thought I’m finished and I should go back to Japan,” Katsumi said.
Chennai City FC had filed a complaint against the referee to the referee’s assessor who will send a report on referees to the Asian Football Confederation.
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