JDT slapped with RM103k fine for fan fury and handshake snub
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) have been slapped with a US$24,000 (RM103,092.54) fine by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for multiple disciplinary breaches during their Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite last-16 return-leg clash against Buriram United on March 11.
The AFC disciplinary and ethics committee announced the sanctions on Thursday, citing crowd misconduct, organisational failures, and unsporting behaviour by players.
Spectators at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium were found to have thrown at least 20 water bottles onto the pitch and surrounding areas.
An unauthorised individual also entered the controlled zone and verbally abused match officials after the final whistle.
JDT players were faulted for failing to observe the mandatory post-match fair play handshake, which the AFC described as "an act of unsporting behaviour."
The Southern Tigers were hit with three separate fines — US$10,000 (RM42,955.23) under Article 65.1 for spectator misconduct, US$13,000 (RM55,841.80) under Article 64.1 for poor match organisation and US$1,000 (RM4,295.52) under Article 50.1 for bringing the game into disrepute.
All fines must be settled within 30 days.
The match ended in controversy after a Jorge Obregon goal was disallowed via VAR, sparking fury among the home crowd.
The chaotic scenes that followed cast a shadow over JDT's campaign, which had already ended in disappointment with a 1-0 aggregate loss.
Thursday's penalties add to a growing list of disciplinary actions faced by JDT during this season's ACL.
Earlier punishments included — US$5,000 (RM21,477.60) for Natxo Insa over post-match comments aimed at referees, US$3,750 (RM16,108.20) for team misconduct and US$1,500 (RM6,443.28) for a delayed second half.
Players Park Jun Heong and Murilo Henrique were also fined and suspended for separate offences.
Despite the setbacks, JDT pocketed US$1,384,250 (RM5,941,342.30) from the tournament — US$1 million (RM4,295,520.00) as a participation fee and US$400,000 (RM1,718,208.00) as a performance bonus.
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