Match commissioner Silva Jayasooriya Dilan could have nightmares after a massive blunder that spoiled one-of-a-kind game in the history of South Asian competitions between Bangladesh and India Thursday night.
The normal 90 minutes of the intense Under-19 women’s football final ended 1-1 following a stoppage-time equalizer by the home side.
There was no 30-minute extra time according to tournament bylaws.
In the shootout, none of the 22 players from both sides missed a penalty as it rolled to 11-11.
Some sports journalists had already joked whether it would ever end.
Bangladesh skipper Afeida Khandaker started walking towards the penalty area to take her second spot-kick.
Referee Anjana Rai noted something once she entered the box.
Suddenly the Nepalese referee was seen moving away from the captain while listening intently to her wireless communicator.
She joined the two assistant referees in midfield.
The match commissioner, wearing black suit, was seen having a chat with the referees after which the toss took place.
According to a Bangladeshi player on the pitch, they thought that the purpose of the toss was to decide who would take first penalty after all playing members tried once each.
Afeida looked astonished after the title was awarded to the opposition on the toss of the coin.
Bangladesh officials, coaches and players protested the decision.
Suddenly it was announced at the press box that the match commissioner admitted that toss was a mistake and asked the Indian team to resume shootout but they refused.
The tournament officials had to wait for more than two hours to declare the final decision.
The whole situation was something veteran SAFF general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal had never experienced.
"This was something very new. Such incident takes place once in a lifetime and many were not prepared for this. This is why the total situation turned like this," he said.
It was heard that the match commissioner realized his mistake after talking to referee assessor Tayeb Hasan, who refused to make any comment.
He only said: "It was very unexpected."
The Bangladesh Football Federation sources said their competition team rechecked the tournament bylaws to be certain that the toss was against the rules, and regulations that said to carry on the shootout as sudden death, and informed this to the match commissioner.
The SAFF GS said they are waiting for the report of the match commissioner who left Dhaka Friday.
He added: "Eventually it is not the SAFF but the match commissioner who can’t avoid the responsibility."