Referee 'not smart enough', says HK's FIFA instructor

An experienced FIFA referee instructor has criticised the Malaysian referee at Sunday's Asian Club Championship final for being 'not smart enough' to make the right decision over a controversial penalty kick which led to a 6-5 victory for South Korea's Pohang Steelers over Dalian Wanda of China.

The match at the Hong Kong Stadium was deadlocked at 0-0 after extra-time and had to be decided by penalty shootout.

Dalian were furious with Malaysian referee S. Selearajan after he allowed Pohang's Iraqi international Abbas Jassim to re-take his decisive spot-kick. Selearajan felt Jassim had hesitated during the run-up to his first effort - which cannoned off the post - and ordered him to kick again.

At the second attempt Jassim made no mistake, sending Dalian goalkeeper Han Wenhai the wrong way to win the shootout for the Koreans.

Defeat for the Chinese champions sparked uproar, with missiles being thrown on to the pitch by angry fans, and Dalian officials protesting to match officials. Dalian later refused to accept the runners-up medals and the team officials also stopped Zhang Enhua from receiving his Most Valuable Player award.

Selearajan declined to comment after the game but Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officials said he had blown his whistle before Jassim had kicked the ball on his first penalty.