The All Nepal Football Association (Anfa) on Friday slapped lengthy punishment on three players and as many officials of the Morang FC for manhandling match officials during their Red Bull National League home game against Three Star Club on Thursday.

A disciplinary committee of the football governing body headed by Mahesh Bista handed 18-month ban on players Tek Bahadur Limbu, Surendra Thapa and Sunil Khadka, while team coach Parash Chaudhary and manager Chuman Basnet were suspended for one year. Assistant coach Manish Timalsina was given a two-year suspension from all football activities affiliated with Anfa.

A report submitted by match commissioner and referee assessor stated that the three players and officials had manhandled match referee Sudish Pandey and assistant referees Madav KC and Bikram Chaudhary and verbally abused them apart from instigating crowd trouble after the completion of the match. Morang had lost 4-1 to Three Star in the game where the Lalitpur-based outfit were awarded two penalties.