Chaos at State Hockey League as two matches abandoned in two days

PANAJI

Two matches of the State Hockey League organised by Goans Hockey were abandoned under different circumstances at the Peddem ground in Mapusa within a span of two days.

The bizarre postponements — in a sport already struggling to attract new talent and lacking sponsors — have left a sour impression on those working to promote hockey in the State.

On Saturday, the second semifinal of the Men’s Senior Championship between Star Sports Club, Guddi Paroda, and Young Stars Sports Club was abandoned with 13 minutes remaining. The teams were locked at 2-2 when a commotion broke out over a series of controversial decisions made by referee Inacio Fernandes. Former Goa captain Dattesh Priolkar was the other umpire and, sources said, was fair in his judgments.

The situation escalated when Inacio issued a red card to Young Sports player Gaurav Singh after the latter questioned the referee over what he felt were biased calls. Heated arguments followed, and when it was time to resume the match, the Guddi officials said they could not continue under fading light.

A knowledgeable source at the venue said that at no point did referee Inacio inform the technical official, timekeeper, or team managers about the standoff arising from the disputed red card. Interestingly, sources also revealed that Inacio is a technical officer and is not qualified to officiate as an umpire.

Both teams were informed that the remaining portion of the match would be played the next day.

However, on Sunday morning the situation took a new turn. Goans Hockey convened a disciplinary committee meeting regarding the abandoned match, but no Young Sports official was invited. Matters worsened when Goans Hockey officials orally informed Young Sports that they had been expelled from the tournament on disciplinary grounds.

The situation escalated further when Goans Hockey officials allegedly threatened to call the police and have Young Sports players arrested for preventing the men’s final — between Guddi and Bastora — from taking place. Young Sports players demanded written communication explaining their expulsion and the awarding of the semifinal to Guddi. They refused to leave the ground and challenged president Abhay Bhambikar to proceed with a police complaint, which he did not.

Bastora United, who had reached the final after defeating Stars of Sattari in the semifinal, were scheduled to face the winners between Guddi and Young Sports. But with the semifinal dispute unresolved, the final never took place.

Goans Hockey had yet to provide a written copy of their decision to Young Sports as of Tuesday evening.

Women’s Match Also Abandoned

The on-field and off-field drama continued on Sunday in the Women’s Senior League as well, where the match between Young Sports Club and Bastora United was abandoned. The Young Sports players refused to take the field, stating that the AstroTurf had not been watered properly and that playing on the dry surface risked injury.

Questions are now being raised within hockey circles about who the Executive Committee members of Goans Hockey are and who nominates them. Many officials from registered hockey clubs say they have no clarity on the rules and guidelines governing these elections.

“We have not seen any rules regarding the nomination of Executive Committee members beyond those elected by the Special General Body meeting,” said a club official.

The role of the Executive Committee became a talking point during the State League. State-level player Manoj Pednekar, who believed he had been appointed as a Managing Committee member of Goans Hockey, was not allowed to play for Bastora United. In contrast, Riyaz Karambali was allowed to play for Young Sports after getting permission from Goans Hockey officials — a move that sources say angered referee Inacio, who allegedly declared before the semifinal that he would “show Riyaz and Young Sports their place.”