IDC final abandoned amid controversy

The grand final of the 2012 Inter District Championship turned ugly at Govind Park in Ba tonight forcing Fiji Football Association to abandon the match.

The all exciting final between host Ba and Suva was in the second spell of extra time when Suva scored a goal from a Sanni Issa corner kick through defender Waisake Navunigasau which was awarded by the match officials.

However, Ba players claimed that the ball had not crossed the line and started to dispute the decision.

In their frustration, they confronted the assistant referee which forced the match referee Andrew Achari to stop the match for a while.

The Ba players also opted to walk out of the field of play protesting the decision while the match officials and Suva players, officials and their families all got surrounded by Police and Security personnel at the ground as the fans also got wild and were seen throwing plastic bottles and cans.

Several Police vehicles and motor bikes together with a National Fire Authority truck were brought onto the pitch to escort the match officials, players and their families.

Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel made the announcement of the abandonment saying the decision was taken based on the decision of the referee and in light of security of the players and officials.

He also confirmed that the Fiji FA Board Of Control will meet soon to decide on the issue.

Suva coach Gurjit Singh was frustrated with the incident and said they should have been awarded the winner's prize as they scored a clear goal and there were nothing wrong with the decision of the match officials.

His opposing coach, Yogendra Dutt  when approached said he did not wish to make a comment and referred all queries to Ba FA executives.

Ba president Rishi Kumar however told FijiLive that their executives will meet over the issue and make a comment later.

FijiLive