Aidil gets four-match ban and fine for abusing referee

PETALING JAYA: National centreback Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak (pic) has been made to pay dearly for his moment of madness.

The 30-year-old has been slapped with a US$5,000 (RM21,040) fine and a fourmatch ban by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for “bringing the game into disrepute”.

The AFC disciplinary and ethics committee, who met on Monday, found Aidil guilty of abusing referee Christopher Beath of Australia in Malaysia’s 1-1 draw to Hong Kong in their 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers Group B match at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka on Sept 6.

Aidil, who was unhappy with Beath’s decision in awarding Hong Kong a late penalty, pushed the referee’s hand away during a melee and earned his second booking.

Instead of leaving the pitch, Aidil went on a tirade against Beath and only left the pitch after two minutes 30 seconds.

Aidil used abusive and insulting language on the referee three times. He also approached the referee in an aggressive manner and used abusive and insulting language after the match.

The Harimau Malaya were lucky to collect a point from the match after Alessandro Leonardo failed to convert his spot kick – and the rebound – past goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy.

Aidil’s suspension will see the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player miss the Asian Cup Group B qualifying match against Hong Kong (Oct 10), North Korea (Nov 14), Lebanon (March 27, 2018) and the next international game.