The waiting game

The Crown squad and staff wait to collect their AFC President's Cup runners-up medals in Taiwan

We are still awaiting the outcome of the AFC investigation into the circumstances of the last few moments of the AFC President's Cup between Phnom Penh Crown and the hosts, Taiwan Power Company. The match was played on 25 September and the AFC have had access to the referee's report and the television footage by the local tv station, as well as reports and statements from both clubs. The punishment for the three Crown players red-carded for pushing referee Marai Mohammed Alawaji from Saudi Arabia after he failed to award a nailed-on penalty in injury-time, remains to be seen, as does any disciplinary fall-out from the fighting that took place at the final whistle between both camps. There's no point in speculating what the AFC might do until they reach their conclusion. However, there was a somewhat similar incident with players and officials brawling in the full glare of the television cameras, in a recent AFC Champions League match, and the disciplinary committee issued a six-game ban on two coaches and a player after handing out 1 match suspensions to a handful of others.