Biaksangzuala, 23, died after a celebration went wrong in a Mizoram Premier League match. After scoring, Baiksangzuala performed successive somersaults.The untimely death of footballer Peter Biaksangzuala in the Mizoram Premier League has shocked the Indian football community, including players from the ongoing ISL ( Indian Super League).
Biaksangzuala, 23, died after a celebration went wrong in a Mizoram Premier League match. After scoring, Baiksangzuala performed successive somersaults, landed wrong and died from spinal injuries.
ISL team owners and spokespersons told ETPanache that the news had registered on the minds of their players.
"They may not have known him (Biaksangzuala) personally, but are definitely upset," says Indranil Blah, CEO, Mumbai City FC. Blah, however, hasn't instructed players to curb such celebrations. "There hasn't been a separate communication that has gone out to the players. They're aware of the pitfalls of such stunts. Anyway, as a team, we are averse to over the top celebrations."
Varun Achreja, spokesperson of Delhi Dynamos FC, also says that it is impractical to ban celebratory stunts. But he said that the team was in a sombre mood after Biaksangzuala's death.
"The football community is a tight knit one," Achreja says. "When something like this happens to a player, it affects everyone. It was a freak incident and at the end of the day a player knows his body better than anyone else."
An IMG Reliance spokesperson said that barring players from doing backf lips is a team decision and one that is not taken by the league. He also said that the players are insured by the ISL, and the insurance covers all injuries, even those suffered during celebration.
"ISL has an overall insurance of Rs 650 crore. The players' salaries are also insured, in case they have to miss a match owing to sickness or injury. All matches and practice sessions have two ambulances on standby, so we have made it a point to be prepared for any situation," the spokesperson says.