Sri Lanka coach Abdullah Al Mutairi has accused SAFF of favouring the host nation and India after his side drew 2-2 with Bhutan at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday. He also demanded VAR from the group stage of the SAFF Championship.
The draw confirmed Bangladesh’s place in the semi-finals. At the post-match press conference, Mutairi spoke far more about the refereeing than the result, claiming several decisions in the Bhutan game had gone against his team.
“We tried our best. We controlled the match. We were lucky because Sujan [Perera] saved one penalty, which I think was not a penalty. If there was VAR from the group stage, I believe the second goal was offside, but I don’t know. I think we had one penalty, but we were not given one.”
Bhutan led through Dawa Tshering in the 34th minute, but Oliver Kelaart equalised a minute later with a fine shot from outside the box. Wasim Razeek then headed Sri Lanka ahead in the 43rd minute from a Kelaart cross.
Bhutan won a penalty in the 68th minute, and goalkeeper Sujan Perera saved captain Chencho Gyeltshen’s spot-kick. Chencho levelled with a superb goal in the 76th minute, and Sri Lanka had to settle for a point.
Mutairi turned his attention to the next fixture, against the hosts.
“If all these refereeing mistakes are happening against Bhutan, what will happen to us against Bangladesh? This is a message to SAFF: introduce VAR now or find a solution to the refereeing.”
His sharpest remarks were about the tournament’s commercial interests.
“I have experience from 2021. So please, if the commercial benefits mean you want India and Bangladesh in the final, just have a competition between those two. The others can play off in another window. This time, I am not being direct. Next time, if the referee makes the same mistakes and the atmosphere is the same, just give India and Bangladesh the final. Send the other teams home and save us the time we are wasting.”
He also pointed to a pattern across previous editions of the tournament.
“I will tell you why: because Bangladesh are the hosts. I know how referees sometimes... If all these mistakes are happening against Bhutan, what will happen against the host country, Bangladesh? What will SAFF do? Check 2021, check 2023, check 2019, check 2017, check 2015, check 2013. Check. So it is not about Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. It is about fair play.”
Mutairi also questioned why VAR is reserved for the semi-finals and final, and asked whether cost was the reason. He said Sri Lanka’s number 17 was fouled six times in front of the penalty area without action, while fouls were given whenever his side countered.
Sri Lanka face Bangladesh in their final group match on the night of November 11. A defeat could end their campaign, while a draw would be enough to take them into the semi-finals.
Mutairi said he had no fear going into that game.
“I am not afraid of anything. Football is 11 against 11. I promise one thing: the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh match will be the best match in SAFF Cup history. We will do our best, and they will do their best. It is very important for Bangladesh to beat us by a two-goal margin, so we will go out and give our best.”