KUALA LUMPUR: After furious fans lashed out at Japanese referee Ryuji Sato, the Malaysian player involved in an AFF Cup controversy on Dec 27 got a heavier punishment today,
Defender Azam Azmi Murad, who was red carded in that match, was fined US$1,000 (RM4,397.47) and given a two-match ban by the Asian Football Federation (AFF)
Azam was sent off in the 62nd minute by Sato who deemed that he had fouled Vietnam's Doan Van Hau after both players got entangled at a hoarding board outside the pitch at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
Sato also awarded a penalty to Vietnam although it seemed that Van Hau had crashed into Azam and brought him down. Vietnam won the Group B match 3-0.
This led to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) lodging an official complaint against Sato with the AFF on Dec 29. However, the Asean body are not moved by FAM's protest.
"Azam Azmi Murad is suspended for two matches, which includes one automatic suspension arising from his expulsion from the Vietnam vs Malaysia match on Dec 27," the AFF said in a statement yesterday.
"The suspension will partly be served in the match on Jan 3 between Malaysia vs Singapore. The remainder of the suspension will be served in the next Malaysian match in AFF in accordance with Article 38.2.1 out of the AFF Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
"Azam is ordered to pay a fine of US$ 1,000 in accordance with Article 48.2 of the AFF Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
"The fine shall be settled within 30 days from the date that this decision is communicated in accordance with Article 11.3 of the AFF Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
"Azam is informed that a repeat violation of this provision may be met with severe punishment."
This means Azam will sit out the first leg of the AFF Cup semi-finals if Harimau Malaya qualify for the knockout round.
AFF's decision is expected to rile up Malaysian fans as this was not the first time Sato made a controversial call against Malaysia.
In 2020, he had awarded a dubious penalty against Malaysia during a 2022 pre-World Cup qualifier against Vietnam in Dubai.
Malaysia and Vietnam were tied at 1-1 then, and with 10 minutes remaining, midfielder Brendan Gan was adjudged to have committed a foul even when there was no body contact with any Vietnam player. Malaysia lost 2-1 after Vietnam's Que Ngoc Hai converted the spotkick.