Bangladesh Hockey Federation declared Mohammedan FC as the champion of Dhaka Premier Division Hockey League as they gave the verdict of MSC’s incomplete match against Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club on Wednesday.
The match, last one of the league, was on 1-1 when the match was disrupted on the 44th minute following a protest on Mariners’ equalizer and BHF announced the match as a draw after over four months.
With this result MSC have 40 points from 15 matches, one more than runners-up Abahani and Mariner ended on third with 37 points.
On the final day of the league, Mohammedan protested Mariner’s goal and sought for video referral. However, Mariner claimed that MSC made misconduct through ‘the refusal of play. Under this hotchpotch circumstances two Chinese Umpires left the ground and the fate of the match, and the championship, was submitted to the discretion of BHF.
On Wednesday BHF’s executive committee took the final decision after a three-hour long meeting.
“According to the bylaws, the rest minute of that incomplete match was supposed to take place in next day but there was no environment to hold the match. Besides, the foreign players and umpires had also departed the next day. There was also recommendation from the league committee to slash the points of both teams but the meeting has decided that the result of 1-1 till 44 minutes of that match will stand,” said BHF general secretary Abdus Sadeque to media after the meeting.
The equalizing goal of Mariner Youngs and stopped playing in demand of the video referral while Mariner Youngs demanded ‘the refusal of play’ against Mohammedan SC that promoted two Chinese umpires left the ground with giving any decision to the fate of the game after waiting for a long time.
“As the points have been split among Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club, Mohammedan have been declared the champions,” said Sadeque.
The BHF GS also confirmed that both the teams will be punished for their acts in the match.
“Both of the teams had done a gross of odds on the field. The disciplinary committee has been asked to submit a report within next 15 days to find out who were responsible for that incomplete match. We will surely take actions in line with the recommendations,” said the former national player.
Mariner’s manager Nazrul Islam Mridha was discontent with the verdict and said they would take further decision after consulting with the club management.