GAYA, JAN. 13: Dhondupling FC Clement town became the first ever winner of the Tibetan Champion’s League here in Penalty shootout after both sides scored two goals in the regulated time without extra time.
However, the tournament, which went very well since the start, had an unruly ending as over a thousand people barged onto the field as soon as it was announced that the game would go directly onto penalties.
Despite the organizer’s attempts to clear the field the spectators, mostly monks, did not budge. The policemen on the field were too small in number to chase people out. The officials seemed to have no option but to officiate the penalty shootout in the new setting, very much against the FIFA rules which say that only the three officials and the 22 players shall be on the field while a kick is being taken.
A football fan from Nepal said, “This is weird. Nowhere I have seen a penalty shootout like this where you have almost a thousand people on the field. There are rules to follow. There are rules as to where the players need to stay when a kick is taken, and no other person besides the 3 officials and the 22 players are supposed to be on the field. The game should not have continued until the ground was cleared.”
Dhondupling FC scored first goal putting pressure on the Tibetan Dekyi Larsoe FC who tried well to come back into the game. However, DFC’s defense marked the TDL forward very well making it hard for any ball to be crossed inside for the waiting striker.
As soon as second half resumed, TDL were back into the game as a poorly collected ball was hushed into the net by Tapan, TDL’s star of the tournament. However, the joy of TDL supporters was short-lived as DFC scored yet another goal regaining their lead. With about 15 minutes remaining, TDL scored the equalizer, much to the delight of the TDL supporters.
Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay and Health Minister Choekyong Wangchuk graced the first half of the game with their presence. The Tibetan PM lauded the organizer’s efforts in organizing the competition that he said will surely help in reducing drugs and substance abuse in the Tibetan community.
The winner gets two hundred thousand rupees and the runners-up gets one hundred thousand rupees as cash prizes.
