Players walk off game

The National Sports

SATURDAY’S match between hosts Morobe United and Star Mountain was called off after Star Mountain players walked off following the referee’s decision to disallow a goal after initially awarding it.
The round-15 Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League opening match of Lae’s double-header at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium ended in 2-1 in favour of Morobe with Star Mountain’s second goal through Lahai William yet to be confirmed after Morobe players protested the validity of a throw-in in the lead-up.
The throw-in saw Star Mountain’s Tau Winnie cross the ball for William to score the equaliser 25 minutes from fulltime.
But Morobe had reportedly protested the decision which saw the goal later disallowed, causing Star Mountain players to walk off.
Star Mountain head coach Selan Elijah told The National yesterday that poor judgement from the match officials had harmed the integrity of the game.
“We know that the decision by the referee is the final decision and you can’t change the decision,” he said.
“There was no clear response from the match commissioner regarding the decision from the referee because he made the decision to award to goal and he later reversed it so we decided to boycott the game.
“We trained hard and we were here to play but we can’t play a decent game if a decision is reversed after listening to players.”

3 comments

  • Game Officials should know that the decisions they make on games day remains and can not be reversed. If a team is not happy then they must take it to the Appeals Committee for them to review the referees decision and make some analytical evaluations on the incident with reference to the FIFA rules of the game, if there has been a breach then the appropriate solution follows with clarifications made to educate the coach, players and the spectators at large. The referee is an official that must be respected and his decisions, therefore he or she must protect his or her integrity in the game and do not bring the code into disrepute.

  • The NSL is the highest level of the professional soccer competition in the Country. I am sure there is a by-law that governs what is called an Appeal Process and with its Policies and Procedures on how to arbitrate on field indiscretions and disagreements.

    This cave man mentally albeit PNG Style of walking off must stop completely in soccer and any other professional sports, for that matter, here in PNG . Play the whole game and then appeal if a team wishes to. What a disgrace to walk off. Star Mountains FC just informed the entire Country on Saturday that they have a mentally that is way below that of Professional Sports Men and Women and Teams.

    Do they have a Team Management in place? Who is advising them? Were the Sponsors watching the game and have they commented on their Team’s disgraceful act on the Field?

    If you are disappointed in the Umpire or Referee’s decision, for goodness sake, complete the whole game then Appeal. Its not the end of the world you know.

    Star Mountains FC is a disgrace.

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