The match was part of a four-team round robin playoff to determine the national championship. The league crown went to Adema after SOE were held to a 2–2 draw by DSA Antananarivo in their penultimate match, during which the referee awarded a late and disputed penalty. The resulting draw meant that SOE were knocked out of the title race. With the championship already decided, SOE decided to protest; according to some sources, there was an argument between the SOE coach and the referee himself. SOE deliberately scored 149 own goals, with spectators saying that after each kick-off the ball was kicked into their own goal, the opposition players standing and looking bemused. It was reported that spectators descended on the ticket booths to demand a refund.