India’s SAFF Women’s Championship campaign came to an abrupt end in a chaotic semifinal match against Nepal. The match, played in Kathmandu on Sunday, ended in a 2-4 penalty shootout loss for India after a controversial refereeing decision sparked a lengthy protest from the home side.
Nepal will now face Bangladesh in the final, who defeated Bhutan 7-1 in the other semifinal.
The match at the Dasharath Stadium was marred by drama from the outset. India took the lead in the 62nd minute through Sangita Basfore’s stunning strike from outside the box. However, Nepal’s celebrations were cut short when the referee disallowed a goal, sparking a furious protest from the home side.
The match was then held up for over 70 minutes as Nepal refused to continue, demanding a reversal of the referee’s decision. The scene on the pitch descended into chaos, with players and officials from both sides engaging in heated exchanges.
After lengthy discussions between the supervising officials and the Nepal side, the match eventually resumed. However, the long delay appeared to have disrupted India’s rhythm and concentration. Seconds after the restart, Nepal equalized through Sabitra Bhandari, sending the game into extra time.
In the penalty shootout, Nepal converted all four of their attempts, while India could only manage two. Skipper Ashalata Devi and Ranjana Chanu missed their spot-kicks, handing Nepal the victory.
The controversy began in the second half when Nepal striker Rekha Poudel was sent off for a second yellow card offense. The Nepal players protested vehemently, leading to a tense atmosphere in the stands.
The situation escalated after India’s goal, when Nepal attempted to restart the game and score into an empty net. The referee disallowed the goal, prompting the Nepal players and officials to walk off the pitch.
It took over an hour for the organizers and supervising officials to resolve the issue and get the match back underway. However, India were unable to regain their composure and ultimately fell to defeat.
