News Desk
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has slapped Sri Lanka Under-20 head coach Mohamed Imran with a USD 5,000 fine following a disgraceful post-match meltdown directed at Maldivian players and officials.
The heavy financial penalty follows an AFC ethics investigation into ugly scenes triggered after the Maldivian side crushed Sri Lanka 4-0 during the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar.
Imran’s sanction piles on top of domestic disciplinary measures already hammered out by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), which axed the coach from all football-related activities with a two-year suspension.
Throughout the lopsided fixture, Imran threw a sideline tantrum over refereeing decisions before turning his fury toward the victorious Maldivian squad and match officials with a barrage of abusive remarks. The outburst went far beyond typical sideline frustration, prompting match officials to file formal misconduct reports immediately after the final whistle.
The Sri Lankan football governing body did not mince words when announcing its domestic sanction, stating that the coach’s loutish behavior was completely unbecoming of someone trusted to guide young athletes. The federation emphasized that such conduct crossed every line, making a harsh suspension essential to protect the spirit and integrity of the game.
While Sri Lanka crashed out at the bottom of the group winless after failing to secure a single point, the commanding victory cemented a brilliant qualification run for the Red Fanz.
Football ties between the Maldives and Sri Lanka stretch across decades of close regional rivalry and historic fixtures. Mutual respect between the two football communities deepened sharply following the unforgettable 1997 South Asian Gold Cup semi-final, where the Maldives edged out Sri Lanka to storm into the final. Over the years, numerous Sri Lankan stars have featured in Maldivian club football, while local teams have frequently leaned on regional ties and training fixtures between the two nations.
