Fifa referee A Rowan was beaten up by Esteqlal HS boys from Afghanistan during a U17 Subroto Cup match against... Read More

NEW DELHI: Officiating in a football match between schoolboys could be fraught with danger, as Fifa panel referee A Rowan found out on Friday. The 31-year-old, who will join the Asian Football Confederation 's Elite panel next year, was thrashed by young Afghan boys during a quarterfinal match of the Under-17 Subroto Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium . His fault: he red-carded three players of the school team from Afghanistan during their match against the team from Ukraine, FC Dynamo Kiev.

The ugly assault came at a premier tournament organized by the Air Force Sports Control Board where foreign teams are invited to participate as a gesture of goodwill. The organizers are apparently not too keen on lodging a police case against young boys from a "friendly country". Besides, any legal action could result in a diplomatic tangle. IAF officers refused to comment on the "sensitive matter". Rowan, a Services employee himself, did not take calls.

It was the 33rd minute of the match when the Esteqlal High School (Afghanistan) were trailing 0-2 with two of their players already out with red cards. Rowan, the Chennai-based referee, decided to flash the third red card for dangerous play. "As soon as the referee showed the card, the Afghan boys protested. One of them started hitting the referee brutally. I have never seen an assault in an international match between young boys," said a spectator.

The Afghan team eventually lost the match 0-2.

By the time officials and linesmen came to Rowan's rescue, the referee had taken quite a few blows. The match resumed after quite some time, "but Rowan was pulled out of the match once we noticed blood on his lip and under the eyes," said a football official. Rowan was taken to hospital where he received several stitches. The last few minutes of the match was conducted by another referee, CR Singha, as the Ukrainian side maintained their lead and booked a berth in the semifinals.

"This is a serious matter, more so as this is a tournament conducted by the Services. We have received the referee's report which will go it to technical committee. A final decision on any action would be taken by the Air Force Headquarters," an organizer said.