Qatar fined after coach Bruno Metsu refused to conduct interview
By DPA, IANSThursday, January 13, 2011
DOHA - The Qatar football team was fined $2,000 fine by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after coach Bruno Metsu refused his players to attend a post-match interview following the team’s 0-2 loss to Uzbekistan in their opening game.
Tournament Director Tokuaki Suzuki said Thursday that the Frenchman had refused to conduct the one-minute interview for the tournament’s official website, as is prescribed in the tournament regulations.
Metsu, who sensationally took Senegal to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup finals, attended the post-match press conference after the defeat.
Qatar, Iraq and North Korea are also being investigated by the AFC Disciplinary Committee after failing to make a player available for a pre-match press conference.
Suzuki also said that the disciplinary committee was looking into the refusal of United Arab Emirates (UAE) coach Srecko Katanec to stop in the mixed zone after his side’s 0-0 draw against North Korea.
