A so-called activist turned football organizer, Dhanish Ali, finds himself on the receiving end after a botched youth tournament leaves parents demanding refunds and the crowd demanding justice.
Dhanish Ali, once known for storming national television during the Aragalaya protest movement, has now made headlines for a very different reason. Ali and his father, Roshan, attempted to organize a school football tournament in Maligapitiya, Kurunegala, but the event quickly descended into chaos, ending in public outrage, refund demands, and even physical assaults on the organizers.
The tournament, promoted by a private football academy linked to Ali and his father, was announced as a one-day event for boys and girls across four age groups: under-10, under-12, under-14, and under-16. The format followed a league system, and each team was charged an entry fee of Rs. 10,000. With around 140 teams registered, including some traveling long distances from as far as Jaffna, expectations were high.
But from the very start, the event showed signs of disorganization. Matches were scheduled from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, but the number of participating teams made it impossible to complete the fixtures in the given timeframe. The under-16 matches never even began, while other games dragged on until midnight, well past the advertised schedule.
The frustration of parents, coaches, and team managers soon turned into confrontation. Many demanded not only a refund of the entry fees but also compensation for travel costs. When Ali and his group reportedly dismissed these complaints, tempers flared, and a heated argument escalated into violence. The angry crowd allegedly assaulted Ali and the other organizers, damaging stadium property in the process. It was even reported that the organizers’ mobile phones were switched off following the incident.
Criticism from the football community has been sharp. “The organizers should have a prior understanding of how many teams will be coming to the tournament. In a tournament with about 140 teams, can they finish the matches in one day even if they are given 5 minutes for each match? Besides, this is a tournament conducted in a league system. Then, four to five matches will be played per team anyway. When will the matches be finished after that? These people only wanted to bring more teams and earn money from the entry fee. Because if 140 teams come, the entry fee alone will be about 1.4 million rupees. But at least when such a tournament is held, there was no ambulance at the venue. Also, from whom was permission obtained for this tournament? Where is the permission to hold such competitive events for children under 12 and under 10 years of age?” said one football official.
The lack of official sanction has added to the controversy. Reports indicate that neither the Kurunegala Football League nor the local police had been informed of the event. The absence of basic safety provisions, such as an ambulance for emergencies, drew further criticism. Parents expressed concern not only about the disorganization but also about the risks posed to young players.
Now, complaints have been lodged with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, demanding a formal investigation into the fiasco. The episode has exposed both the mismanagement of the event and the risks of unregulated private tournaments that prioritize revenue over proper planning and child safety.
For Dhanish Ali, who once branded himself as a face of public activism, the beating he received in Kurunegala is a stark reminder that credibility can be lost as quickly as it is claimed. What was meant to be a celebration of youth football ended as yet another scandal, mixing allegations of greed, incompetence, and disregard for children’s welfare.
