WHETHER the FA of Malaysia (FAM) like it or not, the national team will have to travel to Pyongyang for their ‘delayed’ Asian Cup qualifying Group B match against North Korea on Oct 5.
The match at Kim II Sung Stadium in Pyongyang was initially scheduled for March 28 before it was moved to June 8 but the AFC postponed it again to Oct 5, citing the geo-political tension on the Korean Peninsula.
The decision by the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) to postpone the match “twice” had upset the other countries in the group.
In June, Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic questioned AFC over the matter and cited that it should not happen in a regular competition.
It will be interesting to see whether FAM will appeal considering that Tuesday’s match between North Korea and Lebanon in Pyongyang went smoothly without any security glitches.
“Lebanon played in Pyongyang yesterday and there were no complaint by the team or match officials. At the moment, there is no change (in the venue),” said AFC secretary-general Datuk Windsor Paul yesterday.
However, FAM have bigger issues to address as AFC may sanction the national football team for incidents in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Hong Kong at Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka.
Centre-back Aidil Zafuan Radzak approached referee Christopher Beath and pushed aside his hand in protest at Hong Kong being awarded a late penalty kick.
As soon as the final whistle was blown, national coach Nelo Vingada ran onto the pitch to confront the referee while Aidil returned from the dressing room and charged at Beath. Even midfielder Amirul Hadi Zainal had to be pulled away.
Beath had to be escorted into the tunnel where a plastic bottle was hurled at him by a fan from the stands. The other player sent off by the referee was right-back Rizal Ghazali.
The decisions may seem controversial but former Fifa referee Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh said Beath was spot on and followed regulations by the book.
“Beath made the right decisions to send off Rizal and Aidil and also to award Hong Kong a penalty kick,” said Subkhiddin.
AFC are awaiting reports from the match officials before deciding on the next course of action.
“We cannot just be punishing teams without looking into the reports from match officials first,” said Windsor.
With Fifa and AFC usually taking hard stand on offences against match officials. Vingada and some of his players now risk being fined and suspended.