Hockey League suspended
2 BHF officials beaten up
Sports Reporter
The Green Delta Premier Division Hockey League has suspended for indefinite period after some Mohammedan officials and supporters attacked Bangladesh Hockey Federation officials during the first 'Super Five' match between Abahani Krira Chakra and Usha Krira Chakra at the Maulana Bhasani National Stadium yesterday.Mohammedan officials and supporters led by manager Wasim Khan rushed to the BHF office claiming that one of the Indian umpires was 'drunk'. The agitated fans manhandled BHF executive member and secretary of the tournament committee Nurul Amin and league committee secretary Mashirul Kabir Ritu. They also ransacked the federation's office before leaving. "I hold Umpire Mahbubul Haq Mitu responsible for what happened. I will file a case against him," said an angry Amin, who suffered a cut on the nose. Ritu told reporters that it was perfectly legal to change umpires during a match if the official fell sick. After the match the Indian umpire Venu Uthappa denied that he was drunk and withdrew after the first half because his blood pressure suddenly shot up. "I felt dizzy that's why I asked the reserve umpire (Abdur Rashid Khan) to take over. It was as simple as that if I was drunk then how could I have conducted the first half," he said. Utthappa's colleague HS Sokhi, defended his Indian colleague saying he was sick. Uthappa, however, was unhappy there was no doctor present at the ground. "Actually our appointed doctor informed us just before game the started about his unavailability. So we were unable to arrange a replacement for him," league committee secretary Ritu said. BHF general secretary Shamsul Bari told The Daily Star Sport that an emergency meeting would discuss the incident.
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