Chandigarh, June 12 (Ozi news desk): Indian football enthusiasts have expressed their dismay over a contentious referee decision that resulted in a disputed goal from Qatar during a crucial match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. The game, which ended in a heart-wrenching 1-2 loss for India against Qatar in a must-win FIFA World Cup qualifying encounter, has sparked outrage on social media platforms with many users condemning the referee’s call as ‘blatant cheating’ and accusing him of depriving India of a fair opportunity. This incident occurred as India transitioned into the post-Sunil Chhetri era, guided by head coach Igor Stimac. This oversight by the match officials from South Korea left the Indian team in a state of disbelief, as they were caught off guard by the turn of events. Indian captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s valiant effort to prevent the goal from Aymen was in vain, as the Qatari forward managed to capitalize on the situation and score, despite protests from the Indian players and the linesman’s efforts to annul the goal. The referee’s decision to allow the goal to stand, despite the clear violation, resulted in the score being leveled at 1-1, much to the disappointment of the Indian team and their supporters.
