BENGALURU ENTER SEMIS AFTER KERALA BLASTERS FORFEIT MATCH

KOLKATA: Kerala Blasters walked off the pitch in the 97th minute, leading to the first playoff of the Indian Super League (ISL) being abandoned after Sunil Chhetri struck the match’s only goal with a quick free-kick. In a never-before incident in nine ISL seasons, referee Crystal John blew the final whistle after waiting till the end of what would have been 30 minutes of extra-time.

By then, it was nearly 20 minutes that Kerala Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic had taken players off the pitch. It was the first major controversy in ISL since December 2015 when Chennaiyin FC’s Elano was hauled away to the police station after they had beaten FC Goa in the final in Margao. That led to Srinivas Dempo and Shivanand Salgaocar moving away and FC Goa getting new owners. It was the first major game abandoned in domestic club football since Mohun Bagan and East Bengal’s I-League tie in December 2012.

Match commissioner Amit Dharap was seen around the 120th minute mark speaking to John after which he blew the final whistle. This was the ninth straight game Bengaluru FC won in 2023, one where they had the better chances, especially in the first half, but Kerala Blasters had finished regulation time as the stronger team. “This is not the way you want to win a game,” Bengaluru coach Simon Grayson told the official broadcasters. “In 40 years of being involved in football, I have never seen a team walk off,” he said.

Bengaluru will meet league shield winners Mumbai City in the double-leg semi-finals. ATK Mohun Bagan host Odisha in the other playoff on Saturday.