Kuwait coach angry over Nada ban
Reuters - Tuesday 11 January 2011, 12:03
DOHA - Kuwait coach Goran Tufegdzic
blasted Asian Cup organisers on Tuesday after they handed
defender Mesad Nada a two-match suspension following his red
card against China on Saturday.
Nada was sent off for kicking striker Yang Xu in the groin
after 36 minutes in their opening Group A match. The incident
was the turning point in the game, and without him Kuwait were
exposed at the back and lost 2-0.
An angry Tufegdzic said the punishment did not fit the
crime.
"Yesterday I saw a letter that said he had been banned for
one match, now I have just been informed he has a two-match
punishment, and I don't understand why," the Serbian told
reporters in his media conference ahead of Wednesday's match
against Uzbekistan.
"He made a mistake, but he does not deserve to miss two
matches."
Tournament Director Tokuaki Suzuki said the extra match ban
was imposed because of the serious nature of the incident.
Suzuki also said South Korean defender Kwak Tae-hwi, who was
sent off in Monday's 2-1 win over Bahrain, would be
automatically suspended for one match.