The match between S. Thomas’s and Dharmaraja in week two ended as 39 – 26 win for the Thomians but it was a flurry of yellow and red cards incident.
ThePapare.com contacted the referee Irshad Cader who gave the two red cards one for the Thomian hooker Pandula De Silva and the other to Manushka Kumara of Dharmaraja College. Both the red cards were issued as second yellow. However, Cader stated that, Pandula’s first yellow card incident was due to the repeated infringement by the team and not by himself. “I had to tell the captain not to do the technical errors and warned them clearly after two infringement, the third time unfortunately it was Pandula who was not 10m before he made a tackle. The second yellow for Pandula was issued for a dangerous tackle, the referee could have easily given a red card for that instead. Cader gave the second yellow card due to the high intensity level of the game. Which was a right decision.
S. Thomas’ has appealed against the first yellow card which was due to a technical error made by the team and not a repeated infringement by the player Pandula. Therefore, Mr. Susantha Mendis secretary SLSRFA said that “due to the team error SLSRFA disciplinary committee have taken off Pandula’s first yellow card and he can play against Trinity today evening”
On the other hand Dharmaraja player Manushka Kumara’s first yellow card was given for tackling when the jumper in the air and the second yellow in the 77th minute was due to a stiff arm jab. Mr. Saliya Alexander the master in charge of Dharmaraja College stated that “we understand that referee has done his duty and due to the intensity Manushka made those tackle but not purposely, also we have appealed SLSRFA to shorten the ban for just one match”.
