KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) is set to take action against the Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) officials for manhandling the referees and match commissioner during their Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League match against Nepal Police Club (NPC) on March 20.

MMC President Tashi Ghale had manhandled match referee Bikash Mahat alleging a biased refereeing while other club officials — Kumar Bhattarai and Bijaya Shahi — including coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung joined the scuffle after the end of the match, which the MMC lost 1-0.

Chhiring had also misbehaved with match commissioner Kumar Jung Thapa when the match was on. Surprisingly at the post match conference, coach Chhiring backed his president’s behaviour and said: “Referees have been biased towards us in all our matches. If they (referees) don’t mend their ways, we could repeat the scene.”

“The disciplinary committee meeting on Monday decided to take action against the club officials but the nature of the action is likely to be decided on Tuesday after closely monitoring the match video footages,” a source close to ANFA told The Himalayan Times. However, chief of the League Disciplinary Committee Karma Chhiring Sherpa denied any such meeting took place.

In a similar incident, Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club manager Chandra Man Tuladhar tried to manhandle fourth official Hari Kumar Khatri for not letting him show up at the technical area during their match against Nabil Three Star Club on March 15 but the ANFA did not take any action against Tuladhar.

The ANFA, however, banned Machhindra FC coach Dhruva KC for one match for instigating crowd during their match against NPC on March 14.

Meanwhile, the ANFA has also decided to tighten up security at the stadium when the league resumes on Wednesday after the league was postponed for three days to mourn the death of former PM and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala. The source also said the referees had demanded for better security after being targeted by clubs’ supporters and officials threatening them and also hurling objects from the stands.