Chennai FC’s head coach, Owen Coyle, voiced his strong dissatisfaction with former Indian striker Robin Singh after the team’s 3-1 loss to Kerala Blasters at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.
The match, held on Thursday, saw Chennayin reduced to 10 men after forward Wilmar Jordan Gil received a red card for an altercation with Milos Drincic. Frustrated by the decision, Coyle confronted Singh, serving as a commentator.
In a heated exchange, Coyle challenged Singh to express his genuine opinion on the controversial red card decision. “It wasn’t the kind of night we wanted in terms of decisions. Are you telling me that was a red card, Robin?” Coyle questioned during the broadcast.
He asked Singh for a stance on the incident: “You’ve been very vocal about Kerala and their advantage. I’m asking you directly: Was it a red card?”
Coyle criticized Singh for hesitating to critique the call publicly, suggesting a bias in his commentary. “The red card was a travesty… I need to review it myself, but from my team’s reaction and what I’ve heard, it was a horrendous decision,” Coyle asserted.
The confrontation highlighted Coyle’s tensions, particularly as fans have become increasingly vocal. Some are chanting derogatory slogans and calling for his dismissal.
The situation intensified when Abhishek Bachchan, co-owner of Chennayin FC, intervened and was recorded in a viral video about Gil’s ejection with Coyle. The debate over the red card’s validity continues to stir controversy among fans and analysts alike.
