East Bengal FC’s 1–0 victory over Indian Army FT in the Durand Cup quarter-final has been overshadowed by a contentious late penalty appeal, reigniting the debate over refereeing standards, accountability and the need for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in Indian football.
The controversy erupted when an Indian Army forward went down inside the East Bengal penalty area following an incident involving goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa. The referee dismissed the appeal, appearing to interpret the incident as a dive, and play continued.
Indian Army head coach Antony Ramesh strongly disagreed with the decision.
“We are not asking for any favour; we are only asking for a fair game. If a decision is to be made, it should be the right decision for both sides. I’m not saying it was a 99% or 80% penalty—it was 100% a penalty, and that is what we expect.When you are losing a match, frustration is natural. But in this case, the incident happened very close to me. I saw it clearly and appealed immediately. There was no crowd around the situation; it was a one-on-one moment, and the referee was also very close to the incident. For me, it was a clear penalty. I don’t know if the fact that it was East Bengal influenced the decision, but that is something I cannot explain.”-Ramesh added.
The decision carried enormous weight in a tightly contested knockout encounter. East Bengal had taken the lead through PV Vishnu’s first-half header before defending their advantage to secure a place in the semi-finals.
EXPERT VIEW: A PENALTY, BUT A DIFFICULT CALL WITHOUT VAR:
Udayan Halder was nominated to the elite FIFA assistant referees panel starting in the early 2000s, enabling him to officiate International matches recognized by football’s world governing body.He also felt the incident warranted a penalty, while acknowledging the difficulty faced by the referee without technological assistance. “According to my opinion, this is a clear case of penalty where the goalkeeper carelessly tripped the attacker in an attempt to play the ball. As a result of Stopping a Promising Attack in an attempt to play the ball, it is a penalty followed by no card.The referee was really excellent throughout the match, but in this situation, he could have moved a little to his left to get a more clear view of this incident. Anyhow, without VAR, these decisions are really tough to be taken on the field.”– he added.
Army Captain Bhabindra Malla Thakuri was equally disappointed by the decision but chose to respect the officials.
“Of course, we felt there was a clear penalty, and it’s disappointing when decisions like that don’t go our way. It again stops our dream to lift trophy . But I respect the referee’s job and we have to stay focused on what we can control. We’ll keep fighting, keep believing, and let our performance do the talking next time.”
IFA Chairman and former AIFF Senior Vice President Subrata Dutta, however, offered a more cautious assessment of the controversy.“The camera says it was a foul. But the camera lens are many a times deceptive. In absence of VAR we shall have to abide by the Referee’s decision. There is no other option.”
STRONG CRITICISM OVER REFEREEING STANDARDS:
Eminent Sports Journalist and Commentator Zafar Ali Khan was far more critical of what he witnessed.
“If this is the state of affairs, how can we expect the standard of football in India to improve? FIFA’s slogan is ‘Fair Play,’ but what we witnessed in the match between East Bengal and the Indian Army was unbelievable. In my 25 years of career as a Sports commentator, I have hardly witnessed anything like this.”
A celebrated former Indian International footballer, who played as a prominent winger during the 1970s and 1980s, also believed the incident was a penalty. He requested that his identity not be disclosed.“yes, definitely it was a penalty.Indeed It was a wrong judgement.The referee should be careful.”-as he said to me.
The controversy has once again brought a fundamental question to the forefront: Should high-stakes Indian football matches continue without VAR?
There is a strong argument for introducing video assistance, particularly during the decisive stages of major competitions. A penalty decision can alter the entire course of a knockout match, while VAR can provide officials with an opportunity to review incidents involving penalties, goals, red cards and cases of mistaken identity.A phased implementation could therefore be a more practical solution, beginning with the latter stages of major tournaments such as the Durand Cup before expanding the system more widely.
INDIAN ARMY FORMALLY RAISES THE ISSUE:
When contacted, a senior Army official associated with the Durand Cup Organising Committee said the Indian Army Football Team (IAFT) had formally reported the penalty-related incident and raised its protest. According to the official, the Durand Cup authorities are expected to take up the matter with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and request a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding the decision to ensure an impartial assessment.“Yes, IAFT has reported this matter to the Durand Cup Organising Committee. Since it is a technical issue, we will take it up with the All India Football Federation and request them to verify the matter for an impartial and fair judgment.”- Army said to BOOT Broadcast.
The issue, therefore, may not end with the referee’s final whistle.The bigger question is whether the Match Commissioner’s report will address the incident and whether the Assistant Referee could have done more to assist the referee in a potentially decisive moment.
“The referee may not have had a clear view, but the Assistant Referee had an opportunity to assist. The challenge appeared to warrant a foul, and the player’s controlled run gave little reason to go down without contact. The match decision cannot be changed, but accountability should not end with the final whistle. The Match Commissioner’s report should address whether the officials acted as they should have.” “If Indian football is to improve, Fair Play and accountability must apply to everyone—including officials.”- Senior Sports Journalist Zafar Ali Khan added.
When contacted for a response, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) declined to comment. According to sources within the AIFF, the matter falls entirely under the referee’s decision.
Beyond one controversial decision:
The East Bengal–Indian Army quarter-final has therefore become more than a debate over one penalty appeal. It has exposed wider questions about referee positioning, assistant referee intervention, accountability,transparency and technological support in Indian football.
Editor’s Pick:
Indian football may not be ready for VAR at every level immediately. But when a single decision can determine whether a team reaches a semi-final or sees its tournament end, the demand for greater scrutiny is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss.The decision on the field may be final. But accountability after the final whistle should not be.
(Image Courtesy: IAFT)
(Pic edited by Suman Munshi)
