Igor Stimac out of SAFF Championship with two match suspension for red card

INDIAN FOOTBALL TEAM head coach Igor Stimac has received a two match suspension for his conduct towards the match officials during the group stage match with Kuwait.

Stimac was sent off from the game after getting into multiple verbal exchanges with the fourth official that earned him two yellow cards.

Following his sending off - the second such indicent during the ongoing SAFF Championship tournament - the SAFF Disciplinary Committee took an extended ban of two matches under consideration.

In his defence, Stimac sent a detailed letter to the committee defending himself, with several video clips of the concerned incidents.

However, the committee has chosen to implement the two match ban, along with a fine of 500 USD.

This means the coach will not only be absent at the sidelines when India face Lebanon in the SAFF semi-finals, but if India reach the final they will have to play that game without the coach's presence as well.

If India lose to Lebanon in the semis, the suspension will carry over to the next official match that India play.

India's assistant coach Mahesh Gawli will take over the role of the head coach in the meantime.

Gawli, in his immediate reaction to Stimac's sending off, had completely supported the coach and accused the referees of being biased against him. However, since then, the team has decided to observe a tactful silence on the matter.

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