ans of Kerala Blasters FC erupted in anger on social media after two controversial referee decisions led to their team’s 2-1 loss to Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Thursday. Supporters were particularly upset over two handball incidents, both of which seemed to go against the Blasters, with the second one leading to a penalty for Hyderabad. The first contentious moment came in the first half when Adrian Luna’s cross into the penalty box was cleared by Hyderabad’s Alex Saji.
However, replays clearly showed that Saji’s left hand played a crucial role in the clearance inside the box. Despite the evidence, the referee chose not to award a penalty to Kerala, which sparked widespread outrage among Blasters fans. The second flashpoint occurred in the 68th minute when the referee awarded a penalty to Hyderabad after a handball review involving Kerala’s Hormipam.
Replays suggested that the ball had not hit Hormipam’s arm, but the referee maintained his decision. The controversial call was met with protests from Kerala Blasters players, but the penalty stood, and Hyderabad FC went on to take the lead. Fans voiced their frustration online, with many accusing the referees of inconsistency, especially considering the earlier handball incident that seemed more clear-cut but was overlooked.
The decision further added to the Blasters' woes in what was already a disappointing night, with the loss extending their streak of three consecutive defeats. Andrei Alba’.