Neil Etheridge suspended for Azkals first match in AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

Neil Etheridge, the top goalkeeper of the Philippine national men’s football team, will miss the Azkals’ first game in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifiers next week because of a suspension he incurred for an incident in last year’s edition of the tournament.
Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss confirmed to InterAKTV that Etheridge will serve his suspension against Brunei Darussalam on March 22, although he did not disclose the reason behind the ban.
But a source close to the team who requested anonymity said that Etheridge’s one-game suspension is for an incident that happened in the Azkals’ third-place match victory against Palestine in last year’s Challenge Cup.
While Etheridge was forced to sit out on that match due to a red card he acquired in their semifinal loss to Turkmenistan, the source said that the goalkeeper shouted profanities at the officials during the Azkals’ game versus Palestine, prompting the AFC to slap a penalty against him.
The ban will only apply to AFC-sanctioned matches, so Etheridge was still able to play in the Azkals’ friendly game against Myanmar last February, the source added.
Despite Etheridge’s absence, the Azkals won’t be shorthanded between the sticks, as Roland Mueller and Eduard Sacapaño are still available to suit up for the team.
Aside from Brunei, the Azkals will face Cambodia on March24 and Turkmenistan on March 26 for Group E of the Challenge Cup qualifiers.
The top team from the group, as well as the two best second-placed teams in the qualifiers, will earn a ticket to the Challenge Cup proper in Maldives.

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