Head Coach of New Radiant Sports Club (NRSC), Portugal’s Bernando Tavares has said that he has seen why football is not growing in the Maldives.

Speaking after NRSC’s match against Green Street, Tavares said that during the match he had seen why the sport is not growing in the Maldives, adding that measures need to be taken “to avoid such situations”.

He said safety of all players must be ensured on the field, and that the spirit of the game must not be compromised.

While NRSC won the match 2-1, officials from Green Street had expressed disapproval at the referee’s decision during the match, with supporters from both sides even getting into a heated verbal exchange.