Lalitpur City FC has decided to file an official appeal following what they claim were unfair referee decisions in their first qualifier match of the Nepal Super League (NSL).
Despite defeating Dhangadhi FC and reaching the final, Lalitpur is upset over two red cards handed to their key players, which they believe were the result of poor officiating.
“We Worked Hard, But Refereeing Let Us Down” — Club Director
Alok Joshi, Managing Director of Lalitpur City FC, expressed strong disappointment over the standard of refereeing in the match.
“We worked very hard to improve our team and raise the competition’s level,” said Joshi. “But the referees assigned to NSL matches are not up to standard. Two of our crucial players received red cards because of wrong decisions. We will file a strong appeal.”
Early Setback: Lalitpur City FC Down to 10 Men
The controversy began early in the match when Lalitpur midfielder Mani Kumar Lama was shown a straight red card in the 16th minute. Ironically, Lama was the victim of a rough tackle by Dhangadhi’s Mohammad EL. Jaaouani but ended up being sent off by referee Umesh Bidari.
More Chaos in the Final Minutes
The situation worsened when Lalitpur City FC’s Papa Diakite also received a red card near the end of the match. To add to the confusion, referee Bidari issued a yellow card to Lalitpur captain Ananta Tamang after the match had already ended.
Growing Concerns Over Referee Quality
Lalitpur has formally protested the decisions, claiming the refereeing lacks both quality and integrity. This isn’t the first time NSL referees have come under fire. FC Chitwan previously issued a stern warning to the organizers, saying the poor decisions could force teams to reconsider their participation.
Chitwan emphasized that their investments in the league are being put at risk due to the subpar officiating.
Long-standing Issue in NSL
Referee controversies have plagued the Nepal Super League since its inception. Although the league organizers once promised to bring in foreign referees to improve standards, that commitment has yet to materialize on the field.
As Lalitpur heads to the final, the team will likely be without two important players—casting a shadow over their championship hopes and raising more questions about NSL’s officiating credibility.
