Westwood suspended for 4 matches by AFC for abusing referee during Lao Toyota game

ASHLEY WESTWOOD, the head coach of Bengaluru FC, has come under fire from the Asian Football Confederation for his conduct during the match against Lao Toyota.

Westwood got incensed at the referee he perceived that a couple of crucial decisions had gone against the Blues. He constantly shouted at the official for the rest of the game, often using curse-words that unfortunately got relayed to the television audience through mics in the sideline. Ultimately, Westwood was sent off by the referee. Bengaluru won the match 2-1.

A complaint was lodged with the Asian football governing body after the match commissioner included this incident in his report. After deliberation, a disciplinary panel sentenced Westwood to a 4 match suspension and a fine of US$ 5,000.

This means Bengaluru FC will have to play their all-important AFC Cup pre-quarter final clash against Kitchee FC away from home on 25th May without Westwood at the bench. 

Westwood has already served 1 of the 4 match suspension; he watched on from the VIP box when Bengaluru FC took on Johor Darul Ta'zim away from home on Wednesday. Which means he is scheduled to miss out on both the quarter final encounters of AFC Cup in September too, provided BFC win the pre-quarter final of course.

But BFC and Westwood have the option of appealing the decision; which they will likely do. With any luck, they will manage to halve the punishment (a la Sanjoy Sen when he was suspended by AIFF) and possibly limit the damage.