Weiss suspended for Azkals games against Vietnam

Karl Decena, InterAKTV 

BANGKOK, Thailand — Already up against formidable opposition, the Philippine national men’s football team will have another handicap in its second match in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup as coach Hans Michael Weiss will serve a one-match suspension.

“It’s not ideal but we’re used to take difficult situations in a positive way,” Weiss told journalists at the team’s hotel lobby here.

With 81 minutes into the match, Weiss was sent off after throwing the ball at Thailand’s Anucha Kitpongsri, who was down on the pitch. Weiss has criticized the officiating during the match, but denied that he threw the ball intentionally.

Weiss said that he will still prepare the team for the crucial match against Vietnam.

“It’s okay. The coaching staff, they know how we want to play. We will stay in contact,” Weiss said. “It’s actually sometimes good to observe from the fans’ perspective to see some things.”

Weiss added that the team is appealing the ruling, but he is not optimistic about it.

“Normally, it’s very difficult to reverse the decision of the referee,” he said. “I think it’s not realistic.”

The Azkals is in a must-win situation as they are currently on the bottom of Group A with no points. Vietnam, meanwhile, has a point to show after a 1-1 draw against Myanmar. Thailand currently tops the group with three points.

The top two teams of the group will advance to the knockout stages of the Suzuki Cup, where they look to surpass their historic semifinal run in the same tournament two years ago.

interaksyon