On Thursday the match officials indeed felt the heat after the first semifinal between victorious Abahani and Muktijoddha, but the way Brothers players and officials assaulted them yesterday was simply unacceptable to sports loving people.

Sabbir Ahmed Arif, secretary of Brothers football committee, produced the most ugly scene in a brawl that started just one minute ahead of the long whistle of the Brothers-Mohammedan semifinal.

The burly organiser's action stunned everybody in the big bowl as he not only physically assaulted assistant referee Shahidul Islam Lalu but also kicked referee Tayab Hassan just outside the playing area.

The atrocity started following the sending-off of Brothers midfielder Liton, who attacked the referee after being booked for a second time and shown the red card immediately.

After the match, dejected Brothers manager Amer Khan conceded that it was not acceptable the way the match officials were assaulted but he said that there were reasons behind the incident.

"I must say that such an act is not acceptable but you should consider the fact behind this kind of incident. The way the officials conducted the match was also unacceptable. It was most unfortunate that the assistant referee hurled abusive language toward our players and officials," expla-ined the former footballer.

Amer admitted that a stroke of a magic-touch from Emeka decided the fate of the match.

"There is no doubt that we dominated the game but Emeka separated the teams with a brilliant goal. You can't do anything when this kind of extraordinary thing happens in a match," said Amer.

Coach Wajed Gazi also echoed the same sentiment and said that luck also betrayed them.

"It was a fantastic goal otherwise my team dominated the proceedings. What can you do if you are deprived by the woodwork. We also missed some close chances," said the veteran coach, who guided the Oranges to two titles earlier this season.

On the other hand, Mohamme-dan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik was satisfied with his team's performance as he thought that at the end, it was important who won the game.

"To me the result is more important than anything and although my boys didn't stick to my plans, I am happy," said Manik, who was satisfied to take his team to the final in his first assignment with the Black and Whites.

"As a coach it would be my third consecutive final in the tournament," said Manik who guided Muktijoddha to successive finals in the last two seasons. "I think country's football lovers will also be happy as they would be able to see the two most popular clubs in the final after a three-year gap.

"I told my boys to forget the past and start the new year in a happy mood. We were under pressure as Mohammedan failed to lift any trophy recently. Now we are satisfied and of course confident to give our loyal supporters something to cheer about," he added.