Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary Committee at its meeting on Wednesday sanctioned Nejmeh SC (Lebanon), Guangzhou Evergrande (China PR) and Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) for offences related to discrimination and spectator misconduct at recent AFC Champions League and AFC Cup matches.
In the AFC Cup, Nejmeh SC were found to have violated Article 58 (Discrimination), Article 65 (Liability for spectator conduct) and Article 64 (Organisation of matches) of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code relating to actions of supporters and security failures at the match Nejmeh SC vs Al Wehdat (JOR) on April 17. Home supporters chanted numerous discriminatory phrases throughout the match relating to religious belief and political opinion. Home supporters also portrayed a banner depicting a religious message.
Nejmeh SC were ordered to play two future matches in AFC club competitions which they host in Lebanon without spectators, with one match suspended for a probationary period of two years. They were also fined USD20,000.
In the AFC Champions League, Guangzhou Evergrande were found to have violated Article 58 and Article 65 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code relating to the actions of away supporters at the match Eastern SC (HKG) vs Guangzhou Evergrande on April 25. Away supporters displayed a banner depicting a discriminatory message relating to national origin and political opinion.
Guangzhou Evergrande were ordered to play two future matches in AFC club competitions which they host in China PR without spectators, with both matches suspended for a probationary period of two years. They were also fined USD22,500.
Kawasaki Frontale were also found to have violated Article 58 and Article 65 of the Code relating to the actions of an away supporter at the match Suwon Bluewings (KOR) vs Kawasaki Frontale on April 25. The away supporter displayed a banner with a discriminatory symbol relating to national origin and political opinion.
Kawasaki Frontale were ordered to play one future match in AFC club competitions which they host in Japan without spectators, suspended for a probationary period of one year. They were also fined USD15,000.
Should any of the clubs or their players, officials, or spectators offend Article 58 of the Code or its equivalent again within the probationary period, the suspended sanction shall be automatically enforced and added to the sanction for the new violation.
The AFC Disciplinary Committee also sanctioned seven players and officials who were expelled from matches in recent weeks.
All Member Associations and clubs have been notified today of the decisions.
The full list of AFC Disciplinary Committee decisions (with brief facts of each case) can be found here.