The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee held an urgent meeting to deliberate matters which occurred in the AFC club competitions on May 31, 2017. The Committee emphasised that the physical integrity of match officials must be both respected and protected at all times. In the AFC Cup match between Ceres Negros FC (PHI) vs Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS), the Committee decided two cases. All other cases will be decided at a future meeting of the Committee. Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) player Mohd Farizal Bin Marlias was ordered to serve a twelve month match suspension and pay a fine of USD40,000. The match suspension shall be served on an Asia-wide basis (i.e. in all domestic, continental and international matches, whether friendly, non-official or official matches). Farizal was expelled by the referee for using his fists to push the referee in the chest, an act of violent conduct. After being expelled, the player used his fists to push the referee in the chest, used his hands to push the referee in the chest, used his hands to push the second assistant referee, used his shoulder to push the first assistant referee, and used his hands to push the fourth official as he exited the field of play, all actions which bring the game of football into serious disrepute. Johor Darul Ta'zim head coach Benjamin Mora Mendivil was ordered to pay a fine of USD7,000 for using insulting language at AFC staff and match officials after the match.
In the AFC Champions League match between Urawa Reds (JPN) vs Jeju United (KOR), the Committee decided on six cases, which include an expulsion in the 119th minute and a post-match incident involving the team official delegations of both clubs. A protest lodged by Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) requesting that the AFC investigate the actions of a Jeju United FC (KOR) player was upheld. Jeju United FC (KOR) player Cho Yong Hyung was ordered to serve a six -month match suspension and pay a fine of USD20,000. The match suspension shall be served on an Asia-wide basis (i.e. in all domestic, continental, and international matches, whether friendly, non-official or official matches). Cho was expelled by the referee in the 81st minute after receiving his second caution in the match. Despite being expelled, he re-entered the field of play after the completion of the match during the post-match incident and used his hands to deliberately push the referee, an action which brings the game into serious disrepute. Jeju United FC (KOR) player Baek Donggyu was ordered to serve a three -month match suspension and pay a fine of USD15,000. The match suspension shall be served on an Asia-wide basis (i.e. in all domestic, continental, and international matches, whether friendly, non-official or official matches). Baek, an unused substitute, was expelled by the referee for running onto the field of play in the 119th minute in an unprovoked manner and deliberately striking an opponent player's face with his elbow, an act of violent conduct. Jeju United FC (KOR) player Kweon Hanjin was ordered to serve a two -match suspension and pay a fine of USD1,000. The match suspension shall be carried over to his next matches to be played in AFC club competitions. Kweon was expelled by the referee during the post-match incident for hitting an opponent player's face with his hand, an act of violent conduct. Jeju United FC (KOR) were fined USD40,000 and Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) were fined USD20,000 for the participation of their team official delegations in a post-match brawl, actions which clearly brought the game into disrepute.
Source: AFC
Source: AFC