Pak slogans in Indian favour infuriate Afghans [The Nation]

by Mohsin Ali – AFP / The Nation

ISLAMABAD – Things took a very nasty turn in the match between India and Afghanistan when Pakistan women team sitting in the stands started to raise slogans in Indian team favour. Strong Afghanistan crowd was very much present in the stands, which looked very upset from rude, unethical and totally unsporting behaviour of Pakistani team.

Some of the young Afghan girls told the girls in green that they had always supported Pakistan whenever and wherever they play. “We never think about supporting other teams when it comes to Pakistan. If Pakistan team can’t support Afghan team then they at least should not raise slogans in Indian team’s favour, as it will demoralise Afghan team, who deserve all-out Pakistani support.”

The brawl gets out of hands as Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) marketing manager Fahad Ayaz, who is also responsible for keeping close liaison with visiting teams, all of a sudden climbed the stairs and reached the spot and without realising the gravity of the situation started abusing Afghan group of supporters and also pushed them. It was not all as Pakistan team assistant manager Raheela Zarmeen, daughter of PFF women wing chairperson Senator Rubina Irfan, also jumped into the brawl and started pushing the spectators.

Before the situation could have turned even worst, PFF director youth affairs M Irfan Niazi rushed to the site and calmed down the things. No one from the PFF was there to control the damage. Was Niazi not called to the site, Pakistan could have face huge embarrassment.

Fahad, who poses himself a close relative of PFF president, broke all the norms and ethics and tried to hit even policeman, who tried to control the situation. The PFF must understand the importance and significance of the championship and such persons, who don’t know how to behave, should be kept away from such high-profile post. It is expected PFF president Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat will take action against his blue-eyed person and justice will be done soon.