AFC Cup match called off after visiting team reduced to six men
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Cash-strapped Indonesian side Persibo Bojonegoro had their AFC Cup match against Sun Hei in Hong Kong abandoned on Tuesday when trailing 8-0 and down to six men.
Persibo only sent 12 players to the match in the region's second tier continental tournament due to a financial crisis that has plagued the club this season.
The visiting side started the second half with just 10 men before injuries further reduced them to just six players on the pitch.
Seven is the minimum a side can continue playing with and referee Chaiya Mahapab of Thailand was left no option but to stop the match with 25 minutes left, and he awarded the match to the hosts.
"First of all I would like to apologise," Persibo coach Gusnul Yakin told reporters after the game.
"We tried our best, but our players played very badly and we had lots of players injured.
"We only arrived in Hong Kong (on Tuesday morning) and they are tired. We only brought 12 players as we are not getting the financial support needed."
Disgruntled fans accused the visitors of cheating as Persibo players walked off, while Sun Hei captain Roberto Affonso Júnior was furious with their opponents' attitude.
The Brazilian told the South China Morning Post: "It's a shame on them. No one believed their players were injured. They just did not want to continue."
"We have heard many times about the lack of sportsmanship of Indonesian teams but did not expect it to happen with us," Sun Hei coach Chiu Chung Man told reporters.
The Asian Football Confederation said they "will review all the incidents pertaining to the match" before giving their verdict.
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| A Persibo Bojonegoro player fights for the ball with two Sun Hei players Photo: Antara |
Persibo only sent 12 players to the match in the region's second tier continental tournament due to a financial crisis that has plagued the club this season.
The visiting side started the second half with just 10 men before injuries further reduced them to just six players on the pitch.
Seven is the minimum a side can continue playing with and referee Chaiya Mahapab of Thailand was left no option but to stop the match with 25 minutes left, and he awarded the match to the hosts.
"First of all I would like to apologise," Persibo coach Gusnul Yakin told reporters after the game.
"We tried our best, but our players played very badly and we had lots of players injured.
"We only arrived in Hong Kong (on Tuesday morning) and they are tired. We only brought 12 players as we are not getting the financial support needed."
Disgruntled fans accused the visitors of cheating as Persibo players walked off, while Sun Hei captain Roberto Affonso Júnior was furious with their opponents' attitude.
The Brazilian told the South China Morning Post: "It's a shame on them. No one believed their players were injured. They just did not want to continue."
"We have heard many times about the lack of sportsmanship of Indonesian teams but did not expect it to happen with us," Sun Hei coach Chiu Chung Man told reporters.
The Asian Football Confederation said they "will review all the incidents pertaining to the match" before giving their verdict.
