ISL: Atletico de Kolkata manager criticises Indian Super League scheduling

Spanish footballer Luis Garcia (R) gestures as Atletico De Kolkata head coach Antonio Lopez Habas looks on during the launch of the football team for the Indian Super League.

Kolkata, Oct 19 (IANS): The scheduling of the Indian Super League Sunday drew the ire of Atletico de Kolkata marquee manager Antonio Habas after his side finished 1-1 with Delhi Dynamos here.

Habas said his charges were tired after turning out in three matches over the past eight days.

Atletico de Kolkata played the tournament opener against Mumbai FC Sunday last and then travelled to Guwahati to face North East United FC Thursday before returning to the city for their home tie opposite Dynamos.

"Most of my players were tired. We have been playing at different venues. For us, it's round three, but for Delhi only round two," he said in the post-match media meet.

On the other hand, Delhi Dynamos manager Harm van Veldhoven criticised match referee Santosh Kumar for not giving a penalty to his team early in the game when skipper Alessandro Del Piero fell down inside the box after being confronted by Jofre Mateu.

"I think it was really a penalty and we did not get it."

Veldhoven said he was "not at all" happy with the refereeing standard and alleged that Kumar was "under pressure" and "nervous".

"There were strange situations, sometimes you have to live with that. Everybody saw that it was a penalty. I told the players that be careful with the penalty against us. The referee sometimes was very nervous," he said.