MMC (Manang Marshyangdi Club) defeated Mahendra Police Club (MPC) 2-0 while Nabil Three Star Club (NTSC) and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) played to a 1-1 tie to leave MMC and NTSC to fight for the title in the matches played today at Dashrath Stadium in the ANFA Martyrs San Miguel “A” Division Football League.

Policemen baton-charging spectators. nepalnews.com/bt

Today could be written as “black day” for Nepalese Football as hundreds of football fans had to suffer and witness baton-charging by the cops at the end of the second match between NTSC and TAC at the stadium today.

The incident occurred when TAC’s Biswash mocked NTSC supporters and the crowd responded by pelting water bottles. Then the policemen baton charged climbing up the open ramp and forced thousands to exit through the small gate. A few of them received serious injuries in the one-hour scuffle around the stadium. The spectators even pelted some stones outside the stadium for few minutes to pour their anger and created violence.

The crowd tore up hoarding boards, broke the window of ticket counter and shouted slogans against ANFA and the policemen. They even stopped vehicles outside the road and disturbed traffic.

ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, who was at the game, climbed up to open ramp and tried to stop the baton-charge and control the crowd, but he also got pushed around. He finally managed to control the crowd somewhat, thus maybe preventing an even worse incident.

Meanwhile there was havoc inside and outside the stadium with people running everywhere. The media also showed up. Some spectators were seen with injuries, some getting rushed off to the hospital. Hundreds of policemen were guarding the stadium till 6:30 p.m., one and a half hour after the incident.

Earlier, MMC defeated MPC 2-0 riding on the crest of Nigerian import Nurudeen Salau.

MMC with 65 points and NTSC with 63 points will play their last games against each other for the title. All other teams have finished playing all their games.