KATHMANDU, Jan 30: Madhyapur Youth Association has welcomed the action taken by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) against the club for its unsporting behavior during the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League.
ANFA on Monday slapped a fine of Rs 200,000 on Madhyapur and banned seven of its officials, including coach and president Upendra Man Singh, for a year.
Singh along with other officials had attempted to manhandle the match referee and occupied the playground for half-an-hour after losing 1-0 against Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club in the league. Tension had run high after Madhyapur´s Nirajan Rayamajhi fell down in the danger zone following a challenge from Som Bahadur Malla in the 74th minute of the match and referee Bikash Mahat turned down Madhyapur´s penalty appeal.
Madhyapur, which was relegated after finishing third from the bottom in the league, organized a press conference on Wednesday in Madhyapur and publicly apologized for the unsporting behavior. "We apologize for what we did and we vow not to repeat it," said club president Singh.
"Madhyapur Youth Association will not disappear from the football scene. We promise to return to the A division sooner than later with improved performance," he added.
Singh said that the club would work toward strengthening its financial status and continue its works in social and educational sectors during the yearlong suspension period.
ANFA has decided to bar the club from any football activities until the registration process for B division league begins next year (2070 BS). However, there is no single event in B division until the end of this season in the ANFA calendar.
Meanwhile, Madhyapur Youth Association repeated its allegation against match referee Mahat and asked ANFA to take action against him also. "Though ANFA has taken action against us, it has kept mum on the referee´s mistakes," claimed Singh.
Madhyapur has been claiming that it had asked ANFA not to let referee Mahat officiate the match as he hails from Jawalakhel and the result of the match between Madhyapur and Himalayan Sherpa was crucial for Jawalakhel Youth Club to avoid relegation.
However, Singh accepted that his side´s unsporting behavior was not excusable. "We learnt many lessons from our entire top tier experience and we hope to come back as a professional team," said Singh.
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