IMPHAL, October 7: Violence between supporters of JSYC and SSU erupted during the 43rd match of the ongoing MSL played between the two club at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.

The match however ended in a 4-2 win for SSU.

Violence had erupted several times during the allotted 90 minutes forcing the referee to stop the match in the 56th minute and in the 88th minute.

The first disruption erupted in the 56th minute after the referee showed Mankhohao Haokip of JSYC the red card for a deadly foul against Somen of SSU.

Unhappy with the referee’s decision to send off one of their players, the JSYC players chased the referee around the ground and assaulted him. The ground security personnel present had to interrupt and bring the eruption under control.

SSU was leading the match by 2-1 when the incident happened. Four minutes later Thangcha Kipgen scored his second of the match to equalize the scoreline.

He had scored his first in the 31st minute.

The first two goals for SSU were scored by L Gogocha (47th, 52nd).

Riyaj Khan and Imran Khan added one each in the 80th and 86th minutes respectively to take the goal score to 4-2.

In the 88th minute when, SSU was again leading by 4-2, violence erupted following a decision of the referee to show two more red cards to one player each of both teams.

The referee sent-off Poakhomang Hansing of JSYC and Imran Khan of SSU for a foul. Following the sending off of the two, players of both teams rushed towards the referee and stated jostling with him.

Following the eruption play had to be stopped for more than 6-7 minutes.

The situation aggravated after Mankhohao Haokip who was sent off in the 56th minute started mouthing communally motivated profanities.

Mankhohao’s loud eruption angered the supporters of both sides who turned physical.

Mankhohao was also physically assaulted by supporters at the gallery and AMFA officials and security personnel present had to rescue him from the crowd. He however managed to escape without much injury.

After the security intervention the match continued for the remaining two minutes.

SSU ended the match in its favour with a 4-2 win.

The referee had also cautioned one player each of the both teams.

Officials and players of both team at the end of the match told media persons that the referee was largely at fault for today’s eruptions. Both teams have submitted written memorandums to the AMFA office appealing not to assign such erratic referees in the future in such major leagues like the MSL.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, KSC defeated ESU by 4-1 at the same venue.

All four goals for KSC was scored by Bony Laino, while the lone goal for ESU wsa scored by Th Abungcha in the 81st minute.

G Ngulkhosiem of KSC was also sent off in the 56th minute.