The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Sha Tin captain Fabio Lopes faces six-month ban with hearing set after referee shove in angry semi-final outburst

Hong Kong Football Association will review all four red-card incidents from Sunday’s bitter Division One League Cup semi-finals

Lopes’ fate to be decided at disciplinary hearing on July 25, where he could be charged with assaulting a match official

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Sha Tin captain Fabio Lopes challenges for the ball against Wofoo Tai Po at Kowloon Bay Park. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 5:30pm, 4 Jul 2022Updated: 6:20pm, 4 Jul 2022

Sha Tin captain Fabio Lopes could face a ban of a minimum of six months for shoving a referee during Sunday’s fiery Division One League Cup semi-final against long-standing rivals Wofoo Tai Po.

Lopes was shown a red card after a verbal exchange with a match official turned nasty. Sha Tin players had claimed the referee missed a handball in the Tai Po goalmouth, robbing their side of a potential opportunity to equalise as they trailed 1-0.

The 45-year-old Brazilian was immediately sent off, but continued his tirade after the full-time whistle, when he returned to the field to berate the officials. Rowdy Sha Tin fans joined the fray, with one angry spectator throwing a bottle at them.

The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) confirmed it will review Lopes’ conduct, along with three other incidents that saw red cards handed out at Kowloon Bay Sports Ground.

North District centre back Leung Kwok-wai received the first red card of the day, followed soon after by Sham Shui Po defender Shahwaiz Khan.

Sha Tin’s clash with Wofoo Tai Po was ill-tempered throughout. Photo: Dickson Lee

The potential consequences for Lopes are big. Under the HKFA’s disciplinary code, harassing or insulting a referee with abusive language either during or after a match can lead to a three-match suspension.