SAFF DIARY - FROM MALE

Monday, 11 October

* On the hindsight, former President and Speaker of the Parliament here, Mohamed Nasheed, who had travelled abroad to treat injuries he sustained in an assassination attempt in May, is set to return to Maldives today

* Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapakse’s arrival in Maldives was a leading news in the Maldives media today

* The Maldivian security authorities ordered that the non Maldivians should bring their passport and work permit to enter the stadium for the remaining matches, due to a ticket issuing problem that sparked protests on Sunday (10)

* Maldivian football fans are waiting to see a big final as they currently lead the five-team points table with two wins out of three with one draw

* Nepal is the other finalist, with a record as same as Maldives

* India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are thrown out of the final this time

* Anyway, Nepal is to meet Bangladesh tomorrow (13) at 4 p.m. before Maldives take on India at 9 p.m. here at the National Football Stadium in Male.

* The final is set to be held on Saturday (16) at 8 p.m.

[caption id="attachment_167105" align="alignleft" width="360"] Sri Lanka Head Coach Amir Alagic[/caption]

After the Sri Lanka-Maldives clash on Sunday (10) where the hosts won 1-0, Sri Lanka Head Coach Amir Alagic expressed his disappointment at the referees’ decisions throughout the tournament.

“Refereeing at every 50-50 ball was given in favour of Maldives. I think the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) should also think seriously to bring the best possible referees,” Alagic said.

“They are lacking skill in this region. We are not stupid. So we need much better referees for the next SAFF games because you know it is more than obvious that in every game, they had some mistakes. That is not normal,” he added.