Kolhapur: High-Voltage Football Match Turns Ugly As Players Engage in Freestyle Fight, Police Use Mild Lathicharge (Watch Video)

A football match between Patakadil Talim Mandal and Shri Shivaji Tarun Mandal erupted into violence at Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Stadium on Sunday, forcing police to intervene. Players clashed on the field, leading to a brawl that lasted nearly 10 minutes. Police used mild force to control the situation and disperse the angry players and their supporters. The final match of the Uttreshwar Cup had drawn a large crowd. Tensions ran high throughout the game. In the last 10 minutes, an argument between two players escalated. Reserve players from both sides rushed onto the field. A verbal spat quickly turned physical as players charged at each other. Team managers and reserve players got involved, worsening the situation. Supporters entered the field, making it difficult for officials to restore order. In the stands, fans continued hurling abuses.

कोल्हापूरात फुटबॉल सामन्याला गालबोट, तुफान राडा#Kolhapur#Footballpic.twitter.com/xZfREXi5aG

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Realising the seriousness of the situation, police and organizers rushed to the scene. Despite efforts to separate the fighting players, they refused to back down. Police resorted to mild baton charges. One player who continued to provoke was physically restrained, further angering his teammates. The altercation lasted several more minutes, forcing a temporary suspension of the match. Officials resumed play after the situation was brought under control. The match continued with seven players from each team. A heavy police presence was maintained until the final whistle.

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11 Red Cards, 4 Yellow Cards Issued

Referees issued 11 red cards and 4 yellow cards during the match. Patakadil Talim Mandal players Yash Devne, Ruturaj Suryavanshi, Rishikesh Methe-Patil, Omkar More, Jay Kamat, and Rohit Pawar received red cards. Team manager Dhananjay Jadhav, coach Saif Hakim, and goalkeeper Rajiv Miryal were shown yellow cards.

From Shri Shivaji Tarun Mandal, Karan Chavan-Bandre, Sanket Nitin Salokhe, Vishal Patil, Suyash Hande, and reserve player Aman Sayyed received red cards. Abhishek Desai was shown a yellow card.

Police Seize CCTV Footage

Police have seized CCTV footage from the stadium and will review the recordings to identify those responsible. Officials confirmed that action would be taken against those involved in the violence.

Concerns Over Match Violence

Fans raised concerns over repeated incidents of violence in local football. Many demanded an inquiry to identify those responsible for instigating fights, fearing damage to Kolhapur football’s reputation.