Bangladesh’s head coach Lodewijk de Kruif blasted Sri Lankan referee Crishantha D Perera for his biased attitude against his team at the post match press conference at the Armed Forces Ground, Kathmandu yesterday.
“The Sri Lankan referee and the Jordanian fourth official destroyed our game. They were attacking towards us from the very beginning and was looking for faults - looking at our costumes and even shoes. Maybe (he) had a quarrel with his wife or did not have a good sleep,” said an angry de Kruif.
The coach’s outburst was not unwarranted. The referee’s biased attitude was evident throughout the game and even after being shown a yellow card, Indian defender Nirmal Chhetri repeatedly chargedBangladesh forward Toklis Ahmed, but was only give a slap-on-the-wrist “verbal warning”.
In another questionable incident, Bangladesh captain Nasiruddin was elbowed in the forehead by Chhetri and later required three stitches. De Kruif stood up to protest the call but was quieted by 4th official Crishantha.
The coach was full of praise for his team while dissatisfied with the officiating. “I found the 100% fighting spirit in my team. The free kick was not there and Mamunul told me that he did not hit Sunil Chhetri instead Sunil fell on him. If the refereeing in this subcontinent goes this way it will never develop.
“Indian team tried to play power football. Our players were also tried it, but the boy’s need more experience. However we are still in the tournament and we have the plans to implement against Pakistan in the next match. However the players are upset and they are crying. I have to boost them up for the next challenge,” said the Dutch coach.
