A rare controversy stopped the Bashundhara Kings vs Police FC match for nearly 70 minutes in the Bangladesh Premier League on Friday.
The Kings Arena clash ended 1-1 after a long delay over a dispute about foreign player substitutions. The match also saw red cards for both teams.
Trouble started in the 64th minute with the score level. Bashundhara Kings raised an objection when Police FC tried to bring on Brazilian forward Danilo.
League rules allow only three foreign players on the field at one time. Police were already down to 10 men after their foreign player Paulo was sent off. Police then replaced a local player and tried to add Danilo, but Kings protested the move.
The disagreement stopped play for around 70 minutes. After discussions, the match finally resumed, but neither side could score again.
The game became more heated later as Bashundhara’s Carlos and Police’s Rimon both received red cards.
In another key match, Abahani Limited Dhaka beat PWD SC 2-0 at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur.
Sulemane Diabate scored first in the opening half. Syed Kazem Shah Kirmani added the second goal after the break.
The win moved Abahani to 34 points from 16 matches. Bashundhara Kings remain top with 35 points.
The two title challengers will now face each other in the next match, where the league title could be decided.
Fortis FC also enjoyed a huge day, beating Youngmen’s Fakirapool 7-1 with Pa Omar Jobe scoring a hat trick.
