Madang FC management has flayed allegations that their supporters had stoned the goal keeper and players of Lae Welgris United in their first round game at Laiwaden oval in Madang.
Madang FC Assistant Manager Chales Romo in a media statement said the report given by Welgris United Management and was published in a daily newspaper and also went viral on Facebook is not true and spoils the name of Madang FC.
He said Welgris claimed that in the first half of the game the goal keeper was shot at using sling shots by Madang FC supporters and the players were also hit with stones in the second half.
Romo said the reports given by the Welgris Management are not true.
He said by going to the media, it has tarnish Madang FC’s name, sponsor and those corporate bodies who wants to sponsor the team long run.
“We respect them, but the step to follow when such incident arises is to check the match commissioner and referees and if it is confirmed than the game can be called off,”
Romo added that the reason why they were bringing this issue to media is firstly to say that they have been falsely accused of what their supporters had allegedly done.
He said the referee reports during that game says it all that there was no incident, and secondly the reaction of the Welgris players also showed no incidents as reported.
He said the report only tarnished their name, and the good Madang FC fans who loved to watch their provincial team play at home.
He also said that the report made the public see Madang FC and Lae soccer fans and players as enemies which he said is not good in the long run.
He admitted that their supporters in Madang respect and love soccer and such false reports have battered their morale and made the NSL management think twice in scheduling home games for Madang FC.
Meanwhile, Madang National Soccer League Match Commissioner Adrian Hangasa when contacted revealed that there is no incident reported in the Madang FC home game against Lae Welgris United.
Hangasa said the reports are not true and he, as the match commissioner patrolled the sideline of the Laiwoden Oval during the game and confirmed that no such incident happened.
He said soccer fans in Madang behave and support well in favour of both teams and after the game he hosted both teams’ players in his house for light refreshment.