The Autobiography of Balbir Singh (Senior)
By Samuel Banerjee, Vikas Publishers, 1977
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Controversy Erupts |
At about 10 pm, I was handed the revised programme for the
next day, with the India-West Germany match listed as a replay.
I lodged a protest. It was rejected and the decision was conveyed to me a little after 11 pm. I immediately filed an appeal. The Chairman arrived at midnight. Long discussions were held into the night. Why apply different yardsticks to the same problem |
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he
important Pakistan-New Zealand match was abandoned in the second half when
Pakistan was leading 1-0. The players of both the teams headed to their dressing
rooms. After a long wait, it was decided to resume the match at another stadium,
5 miles from the original venue.
This unprecedented and shocking decision of the Committee delayed the start of the India-West Germany match which was scheduled for that venue. It was quite clear that our match would be incomplete due to bad light. In spite of protests from the managers of both the teams, the match was allowed to start.
We were one up in the first half, and scored another goal in the 10th minute of the second half, off a penalty corner taken by Surjeet. The German goalkeeper protested against bad light, and our goal was disallowed! Both umpires held mid-field consultations and walked out.
The technical delegates abandoned the venue with the ruling that the match will be replayed. The pro-Indian section of the crowd was angry and wanted the match to be resumed for the remainder of the match only, as was done for the Pakistan - New Zealand match.
The technical delegates avoided meeting me. At about 10 pm, I was handed the revised programme for the next day, with the India-West Germany match listed as a replay. I lodged a protest. It was rejected and the decision was conveyed to me a little after 11 pm.
I immediately filed an appeal. Rene Frank's presence in his capacity as Chairman, Jury of Appeal, was necessary to examine my appeal. He arrived a little after midnight. Long discussions were held into the night. How could the committee apply different yardsticks to the same problem?
It took two days for the organizers to inform us of the rejection of our appeal. We had to replay the match against Germany. Fees for both the protest and the appeal were refunded to me because the organizers knew that my protest was fool-proof.
In the replay, much to the delight of the 10,000-strong partisan crowd, India defeated Germany 3-1, with goals by Harcharan Singh, Mohinder Singh and V. J. Philips. India were in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
The World Cup Team With Film Stars in Mumbai