Referee Mohomed Irshan along with the other officials was assaulted at the Thihariya Youth grounds at the conclusion of the Saunders v Thihariya Youth match at the Sri Bodhi grounds, Gampaha.
Saunders won the match 1-0 and secured their first win in the Dialog Champions League. The two sides are struggling and are bottom of the table fighting to stay off relegation.
According to Referee Irshan they were no major incidents in the match and after the match players shook hands and walked off with no complain. He also stated that at the match there were a few injuries and Saunders players had tried to delay the match faking injuries but it was dealt with giving 5 minutes of injury time and that the angry fans who had wanted more injury time had then attacked the referee.
“After the match spectators around 500 crashed into the ground. Chased me, my assistants and match referee Mohomed Zafran and assaulted. I ran to the dressing room and one guy hit me with the helmet, I saw my other assistants also getting hit.” Irshan told ThePapare.com.
“Only there after the officials came and sorted. No point in coming after everybody got assaulted.” A disgruntled Irshan added.
“They tried to put the blame on Saunders saying that it was a Saunders supporter. I know who hit me. It was a Thihariya Youth supporter. I have a picture of him.”
“There were no police, no protection. I asked at the start, during the match and at half time for security from the officials. They said they’ll give but it never came.”
Irshan puts the blame on the Football Federation and the home side.
“I put the blame on the Football Federation. I have given the report to them. They along with the home side should give the security according to rules.”
ThePapare.com contacted Football Federation’s Director of Referees Mr Mahasena Yapa he condemned what had transpired.
“There will be a meeting today at 4.00pm to discuss the matter. At the meeting the necessary punishments will be given.”
“The Federation expects the home team to provide the security. That is in the rules. They need to talk to the Police and provide the protection. They hadn’t arranged it.” Yapa added on whose responsibility it is to provide the protection.
“Referees are human. They give decisions on what he sees from his naked eye in real time. We never say the referees don’t make mistakes. We all do. It happens in World Cup as well. But it doesn’t mean spectators can assault referees.”
“Punishments should be given. Since the spectators and not the players had hit the referees one option is to cancel home matches. The club should be given a fine. Those are the options. The amount the time will be decided today.” Yapa added about the possible punishments.
