Sanyang and Gunjur both listed eleven (11) players each on their official match sheets.
However, during the pre-match team photo, only (ten) 10 players appeared in each lineup.
Benches of both Sanyang and Gunjur accused each other of attempting to use black magic to influence the match, alleging that a padlock had been used to control the result.
As a countermeasure, each team reportedly insisted that at least one player should remain off the pitch at kick-off.
Central referee Sheikh Tijan Gibba was alerted and warned both captains that any player who refused to be on the pitch when the match started would not be allowed to enter later.
When the game kicked off, Gunjur fielded all their eleven (11) players.
According to central referee Gibba, Sanyang began the match with ten (10) players.
Sanyang’s attempt to later introduce the missing player was denied, leading to protests on the touchline.
The match was halted for 10th minutes as tensions rose among officials, players and supporters.
Sanyang officials argued that Gunjur had also started with a player positioned outside the field of play.
From the press area, it was difficult to determine if Gunjur player was indeed off the pitch or positioned deep along the touchline.
After a 40-minute delay, the match officials returned to the pitch in an effort to restart the match but to no avail.
However, negotiations failed to produce a resolution and the fixture was ultimately abandoned.
In situations like this, stronger proactive measures from the officiating team might have prevented the escalation.
The central referee could have taken control earlier by cautioning any player who deliberately refused to enter the field before kick-off, as such conduct falls under unsporting behaviour within the Laws of the Game.
West Coast Region Zonal Committee (WRCZC) is expected to review the incident and determine the next course of action regarding the abandonment of the match.
