by Natasha Raheel (Express Tribune, 16 November 2015)
KARACHI: In what appeared to be an unusual match, two women football teams in Multan fought against each other on the field by pulling their opponents’ hair on Monday.
The fight occurred during a match between Khanewal and Multan organised to encourage girls at college level to participate in football events.
Director Sports for Multan Riffat Naz said the fight between the two teams began in the first half when a girl complained of her hair being pulled by the player from the opposite team.
The match had to be stopped for a while to resolve the matter, but the two sides returned to the field after an intervention by the officials.
“It was just a little fight, both girls were very much into the game and feeling competitive,” Naz told The Express Tribune.
“One of the girls complained her hair was pulled by another girl from the opposite side, and that was when the fight began. It was nothing that went out of control; it’s natural for other players belonging to the same team to start supporting their player. They are teenagers playing a sport passionately and such incidents are insignificant.”
One of the girls involved in the brawl also clarified it was an accident that blew out of proportion for her, added Naz.
“Even the girl accused of pulling the hair said she didn’t do it intentionally, and was was after the ball when the other player’s braid got caught in her hand. She apologised for the accident,” said Naz.
Results of the match that went astray
Khanewal won their pool match against Multan 2-0 at the Inter-College Girls Football Championship 2015.
Both Khanewal and Multan failed to qualify for the final of the tournament featuring six sides.
Buhrewala Degree College claimed the title as they defeated City College Multan 1-0, but the brawl at the pool match caught the attention of people in the area.
The director of sports for Multan said that the championship features students from matric and intermediate colleges, and the students in the match were from first-year classes, ranging from 16 to 18 years of age.
“This has never happened at any of our tournaments before. This is the first time,” said Naz, speaking about the brawl. “We have many girls who compete at these events.”
Multan District Football Association officials said it was a small tournament but the incident was witnessed by everyone at the venue.