Elephants pay heavy price for AFC Cup snub

PETALING JAYA: Pahang’s refusal to compete in the AFC Cup competition next year have cost them dearly.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary committee have banned the Elephants from applying for the AFC Club Licence for two years.

Pahang, the 2017 Super League runners-up, were given a slot to compete in the AFC Cup after FA Cup winners Kedah failed to meet the requirements to obtain the licence.

The East Coast side, however, opted to skip the AFC Cup as they wanted to focus on domestic competitions.

Pahang now can’t apply for the licence in 2018 and 2019 but they are allowed to appeal the ban.

Meanwhile, Perak were fined RM35,000 and given a two home-match ban for crowd trouble during the first leg of the Malaysia Cup semi-final against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Perak Stadium on Oct 15.

Perak, however, may not have to serve the second ban if their supporters can stay trouble-free till Dec 20, 2018.

Terengganu City FC players Shafuan Adli Shaari, Syam Shahril Ghulam and their goalkeeping coach Zulkipli Ismail were slapped with fines and suspensions for unsportsmanlike and violent conduct during the second leg of the FAM Cup quarter-final against Felcra FC at the UM Arena in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 27.

Shafuan and Syam were found guilty of charging at referee Abdul Rahman Wahab and are handed a five-match ban and RM3,000 fine.

Zulkipli was fined RM5,000 and banned six months for kicking assistant referee Mohd Khairul Nizam Radzali.