Why India and Pakistan football players got into a fight during SAFF game

Scuffles between Indian and Pakistani sportsmen are not limited to cricket matches. In football as well, there can be verbal disputes that escalate into something ugly.

During the opening match of the South Asian Football Championship (SAFF) between India and Pakistan, tensions escalated in the 42nd minute when Indian coach Igor Stimac obstructed a Pakistani player during a throw-in.

The situation quickly spiraled out of control as several Pakistani players reacted aggressively towards Stimac. Indian players also joined the fray while captain Sunil Chhetri attempted to calm both sides.

The game was temporarily halted as the 28,000 spectators watched the spectacle unfold.

What happened

In the first half of the game, India's defender Pritan Kotal and Pakistani player Abdullah Iqbal were contesting for the ball, resulting in confusion over who should take the throw-in.

Meanwhile, Iqbal took possession of the ball and attempted to continue the game. However, Stimac, positioned right behind Iqbal, intervened by knocking the ball out of the Pakistani player's hands.

IND vs PAK sees RED in the first half 🤯

India vs Pakistan is never fully complete without the fireworks and heated emotions 💥#INDvPAKonFanCode #SAFFChampionship2023 pic.twitter.com/xJLZTmcrp5

— FanCode (@FanCode) June 21, 2023

This action agitated several Pakistani players, leading to a confrontation with Stimac. Indian players came to the aid of their coach, and the referee had to intervene to restore order.

Referee takes action

To diffuse the situation, the referee issued a red card to Stimac, forcing the Indian coach to leave the bench.

Pakistani head coach Shehzad Anwar and Rashes Nabi were also shown yellow cards for their involvement in the brawl. Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan received a yellow card as well.

However, this incident was the only negative aspect of India's dominant performance against the struggling Pakistani football team.

India decimates Pakistan

Led by Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri's outstanding hat-trick, India secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Pakistan. Despite their late arrival at the stadium in Bengaluru, just seven hours before the match, the Indian team displayed defensive prowess and determination on the field.

While Pakistan's defenders made some impressive saves, they were unable to contain Sunil Chhetri's exceptional performance and coordination.

With three goals in the match, Chhetri also solidified his position as the second-highest goal scorer in Asia, boasting 90 goals in 138 matches.

The first position is held by Iranian footballer Ali Daei, who has scored 109 goals in 148 matches.