Kerala Blasters seek replay with Bengaluru FC, ban on referee Crystal John | Football News – Times of India

PANAJI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is likely to summon a meeting of its disciplinary committee to quickly decide on a protest filed by Kerala Blasters FC, seeking replay of their tempestuous ISL knockout clash against Bengaluru FC. Blasters walked off in protest at what is alleged to be an unfair refereeing call from Crystal John that allowed Sunil Chhetri to score a controversial goal and put Bengaluru ahead.
There were still 26 minutes left on the clock, but coach Ivan Vukomanovic marched onto the pitch and waved at his players to walk off the field. The players followed their coach to the dressing room and did not return to the field, despite requests from match commissioner Amit Dharap and a senior official from the Indian Super League (ISL).
According to sources, Blasters have filed an official protest with the AIFF, detailing how referee Crystal John erred in
allowing Chhetri to take the quick free-kick, approximately half a minute after the foul.

“The official complaint makes it clear that the referee asked (KBFC captain) Adrian Luna to move away from the ball, so he cannot be allowing a quick free-kick (for the opponents),” a source who is aware of the development told TOI on Sunday.
“When the referee directs the player to move away, it means they are being asked to set up a wall. When the players have been told to move away, the referee must ask the freekick to play for the whistle. The referee’s decision to allow the goal to stand defies logic.”
Luna has told the coach and players that the referee used spray to indicate the position of the ball for a freekick and asked him to move away.
Blasters have now sought a replay of the match – considered a forfeit with 3-0 result – and also a ban on the referee
whose decision has seen the club’s supporters up in arms against the injustice.
With the first leg semifinal between Mumbai City and Bengaluru scheduled for Tuesday, AIFF will have to decide on the protest within the next 24 hours. Neither AIFF nor ISL have issued a statement following the walkout at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru, a first for Indian football.

Since the walkout, Blasters’ management and supporters have solidly backed Vukomanovic. The remarkable support and loyalty towards the team was in full show after the coach and his players arrived at their home base in Kochi on Saturday.
The team received a grand welcome at Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery with chants of ‘We are with you’.
Vukomanovic guided Blasters to the final in his first season at the club where they lost against Hyderabad FC on penalties.