Mohammedan and Arambagh Punished

The Protiti Pharma Victory Day Club Cup tournament committee did football a favour by penalising local giants Mohammedan Sporting Club and Arambagh Krira Sangha for their 'unsporting' behaviour and playing against the 'spirit of the game'.

Having confirmed their semifinal berths, the two teams were engaged in an 'unfair' contest of trying to lose the last match of Group A on Tuesday - apparently in a bid to finish group runners-up and avoid a clash with favourites Abahani in the semifinals.

Normalcy returned in the latter stage of the match under pressure of the angry fans and eventually, tournament hosts Mohammedan won 3-1.

The disciplinary committee, taking match commissioner Abdus Sadek's report into consideration, yesterday termed the Mohammedan-Arambagh tie completely 'unsporting'.

The tournament committee also condemned the two teams for hurting the spirit of the game although they had ensured their places in the last four before going into the game.

Representatives of the two clubs, who were present in the disciplinary committee meeting, also apologised for their acts.

The two teams have been fined Tk 50,000 each, the amount they are to receive as appearance money. Both clubs have been directed to pay the fine before their respective semifinals. The total Tk one lakh will go into Bangladesh Football Federation's fund for distressed footballers and organisers.

The result of the match has also been cancelled but the standing in the group and the semifinal line-up remain same. Level on four points with Arambagh, Mohammedan are still group champions by virtue of better goal difference.

"We have done this for the sake of football," said tournament committee chairman and former national and Mohammedan captain Zakaria Pintoo.

"This is our (Mohammedan's) tournament and had we not done this, we would have been branded as crooks forever. Now we have proved that at least, we do not support such acts," added the former international defender, who had condemned the club during the match on the previous day.

Chairman of the disciplinary committee Jahirul Haque, who has been associated with Mohammedan since his playing days, also regretted the incident during the match.

"People know us and when they will see this match, they will lose all respect. I feel ashamed at what I've been seeing," Jahirul had commented.

Meanwhile, as the first semifinal kicks off today, surprise pack Badda Jagarani will look to maintain their dream run when they face Arambagh.

The match will kick off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 4.15pm with ATN Bangla bringing live telecast.

Badda are the only Senior Division side alive in the tournament along with three professional league clubs - Arambagh, B. League champions Abahani and Mohammedan.

Badda began the eight-team event with a stunning 1-0 win over Abahani but fell to Muktijoddha in the next match before sealing their semifinal berth with a 4-1 crushing of Dhaka Wanderers.

Arambagh drew with Victoria and beat Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool before the controversial encounter against Mohammedan, who face archrivals Abahani in tomorrow's second semifinal.

Mohammedan on the other hand, started with a comfortable win against Youngmen's but were held by Victoria to a goalless draw.

Abahani pulled their socks after the defeat to Badda with emphatic wins against Wanderers and Muktijoddha.