Police are now looking for some people in relation to the incident at Govind Park during the dying minutes of the Courts IDC final last night.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravi Narayan said the incident was uncalled for and he has directed a full investigation be carried out as some people wanted to take the law into their own hands.
He said some people are known to the police and investigations continue.
ACP Narayan said almost 70 officers had to try and contain the situation as there were reports that stones and bottles were thrown into the ground.
He said police investigations will cover everything that happened last night because ACP Narayan stressed that they will not tolerate any acts of hooliganism from a few unruly spectators who think they can get away with breaching the provisions of the law.
Ba players started protesting over the goal by Suva’s Waisake Navunigasau in the dying minutes of the final extra spell saying that the assistant referee had raised his flag for alleged offside play.
However, referee Andrew Achari awarded the goal.
The Ba players immediately went to the referees to continue their protests while some fans ran onto the field.
Ba players also refused to take the field following the incident.
The game was stopped for about 25 minutes before the police escorted the match officials and Suva players off the field.
According to video footage and our commentators, it was a clear goal.
The rules also clearly state that the referee’s decision is final.
Suva coach Gurjeet Singh said the Ba players and spectators should have accepted the referee’s decision and shown good sportsmanship.
Singh said they are now eagerly awaiting the Fiji Football Association’s decision as the winner of the 2012 Courts IDC is yet to be declared.
We contacted Ba soccer coach Yogendra Dutt on the team’s decision not to take the field after the goal.
Dutt said they had a meeting last night and he has referred all queries to Ba Soccer President Rishi Kumar.
Kumar is yet to comment.
Fiji Football Association President Rajesh Patel has announced that the Board of Control will meet in relation to the issue this week however the time is yet to be confirmed.
Fiji FA Chief Executive Officer Bob Kumar has referred all queries to Patel as he said Patel is handling the matter.
Stay with us as we will have developments later.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
Investigation starts into incident in dying minutes of IDC final
