Nine injured in clash over red card in Kotalipara football semifinal
At least nine people were injured in a clash centred on a semifinal match of a football tournament in Mandra village of Kotalipara upazila in Gopalganj on Sunday afternoon. Two of the seriously injured were admitted to the Kotalipara Upazila Health Complex.
The injured are Mekail Islam, 25, Riyad Sheikh, 18, Jihad Talukdar, 18, Dinu Islam, 17, Arman Sheikh, 19, Riaz Sheikh, 25, Kawsar Taj, 40, Sadek Molla, 23, and Rifat Taj, 15.
Young people from Mandra-Radhaganj village organised the 24-team football tournament. The semifinal between Chowrkhuli XI and Uttarpara XI was under way on Sunday.
During the match, the referee showed a red card to a player of Uttarpara XI. An argument followed between the Uttarpara players and the referee and members of the organising committee.
At one stage, committee members allegedly attacked the Uttarpara players and supporters.
Uttarpara supporter Aminul Islam said a Chowrkhuli player punched and kicked a player of their team. When they protested, committee members attacked them, injuring at least nine people, he said.
Tournament president Dulal Sheikh said they did not beat anyone. He said supporters who came to watch the match carried out the beating and that false allegations had been brought against them.
Kotalipara police station officer-in-charge Riyad Mahmud said no complaint had been received so far in this incident. Action would be taken after investigation if a complaint is filed, he said.
