Kirins, Port escape points deduction

Kirins, Port escape points deduction

Muang Thong set to appeal stadium ban

Pol Lt Gen Amnuay Nimmano, centre, during yesterday's press conference. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul
Pol Lt Gen Amnuay Nimmano, centre, during yesterday's press conference. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

Fans of SCG Muang Thong United and Port have been banned from entering any stadium for the rest of the season following their clash last week, the Football Association of Thailand announced yesterday.

Additionally, if the sides meet in any competition next season, they must play behind closed doors, FAT disciplinary committee chief Ammuay Nimmano said after a meeting of the panel.

Each club face a maximum fine of 133,333 baht, according to Pol Lt Gen Amnuay.

Muang Thong have also been banned from using their SCG Stadium for five games commencing immediately, he said.

The committee made the ruling after Muang Thong and Port fans were involved in a brawl outside SCG Stadium after their League Cup semi-final second leg last week.

More than 10 people were injured during the clash.

Muang Thong beat Port 2-1 on the night and reached the final with a 3-2 aggregate win.

Amnuay added that Muang Thong must submit a security plan and the committee may extend the five-match ban on the use of their stadium if it is not satisfied with the plan.

"Muang Thong's security measures were good on paper but not in practice," he said.

Muang Thong had threatened to disband the club if they received a more severe punishment such as a points deduction.

Amnuay said the committee did not consider the measure as the incident took place after a League Cup, and not a Thai League, match.

Muang Thong director Ronnarit Suewaja said the Kirins accepted the punishment although it was harsh.

However, he said the club would appeal the decision to ban the use of SCG Stadium for five matches.

"We have already played a home match at a neutral ground,'' he said.

Thai League leaders Muang Thong are five points ahead of Bangkok United with four matches to go this season.

League One side Port, who were relegated from the Thai League at the end of last season, are in contention for a quick return to the top flight.

Fans of Muang Thong and Port have clashed on several occasions in recent years.

In the King's Trophy match in 2010 at Supachalasai Stadium, Port fans attacked Muang Thong supporters.

The match was first halted and then cancelled with Muang Thong, who were leading 2-0 at the time of the incident, declared the winners.

In 2014, they clashed outside SCG Stadium following a league match, and both teams were deducted nine points.

Kiatisak confident

Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang said his team will get four points from their next two World Cup qualifying matches away to the United Arab Emirates and against Iraq in Tehran next month.

Thailand lost in Saudi Arabia and were defeated by Japan in Bangkok in their first two games in Group B of Asia's final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.

Australia are the other team in the group.

"I am confident that we will get four points from the matches against the UAE and Iraq.

He said Thailand should get a point against the UAE and beat Iraq.

In Group A are Iran, South Korea, Qatar, Uzbekistan, China and Syria.

The top two teams of each group qualify for Russia 2018. The two third-place teams meet each other with the winners facing a Concacaf team for another berth.

Meanwhile, Austrian-based midfielder James Jeggo could earn his first cap for the Socceroos after yesterday being named in Australia's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Japan next month.

Coach Ange Postecoglou has made three changes to the squad, calling up the uncapped Jeggo and Netherlands-based Craig Goodwin, while defender Bailey Wright returns after missing the first two qualifiers through injury.

Jeggo, 24, moved to SK Sturm Graz this year after stints with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United in Australia's A-League.

"We've made a couple of slight tweaks to the squad in line with our mantra of selecting players who are in form and fitness and we'd like to have a good look at Craig Goodwin and James Jeggo, who have started their seasons well in Europe," Postecoglou said.

"Bailey Wright also comes back in after he missed the first two matches through injury and we go to Saudi Arabia and then back to Melbourne with a squad we are comfortable can continue the good start we achieved."

Asian champions Australia defeated Iraq 2-0 in Perth and the United Arab Emirates 1-0 in Abu Dhabi earlier this month to kick off their final round qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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