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| Buriram defender Tiraton Boonmatan hits the heart of opponent Arif Ayman with his hand in the away game of Johorudalutakim on the 3rd. Relay Screen |
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| 중계화면 |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Is this soccer? Is it a martial art? Is it a comedy?'
A total of six people were sent off in nine games of the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage in the 2024-2025 season held on the 3rd (Korea time). Compared to the fact that two tickets were given from Game 1 to Game 3 of the league stage, three in Game 4, and two red cards again in Game 5, the exit rate this round is two or three times higher than usual. 37% of the total number of exits this season took place during the day. There are two more games left: Kawasaki Frontale, Shandong Taishan, Shanghai Shenhua and Ulsan on the afternoon of the 4th, and there is a possibility that the exit will increase further.
Gwangju midfielder Shin Chang-moo stepped on Shanghai defender Weijen's ankle and kicked him in the face in the 10th minute of the second half against the Shanghai Hai River at Pudong Football Stadium in Shanghai, China. The referee in charge of the game ordered Weizen to leave directly after operating the VAR on-field review. Gwangju, which was leading by Heo Yul's first goal in the 38th minute of the first half, tied the game 1-1 in the 31st minute of the second half when it gave up an equalizer to Oscar, the former Chelsea midfielder.
On the same day, the exit scene from the match between Johorudarultakjim (Malecia) and Buriram United (Thailand) held at the Johoru Sultan Brahim Stadium in Johoru, Malaysia, was close to 'comedy'. First, the home team's Murillo was sent off in the 13th minute of the first half for a pushing foul committed in the process of stopping the opponent penetrating into the door. Buriram, who continued the favorable trend, received a red card in the 45th minute of the first half for Tiraton Boonmatan. Boonmatan, who was previously fouled by Jo Horu's Arif Ayman and fell on the lawn, stood up with Arif's assistance and acted as if suddenly pinching Arif's genital area with his hand. Arif caught the injured area and rolled to the floor in pain. The referee, who returned after checking the video on the VAR screen, acknowledged the intentionality of the Bunmattan.
Sports broadcaster ESPN reported that "Bunmattan is a 16-year veteran. It is loved by fans for its great achievements, including three ASEAN Championship wins and 2022 Most Valuable Player Award for the Thai national team as well as the club. But Tiraton finds a way to be a villain every time he fights a rival. The anger caused by Buriram's bench, if you saw the outrageous behavior of Boonmatan, would surely disappear."
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| Shanghai River Weizen's foul play against Gwangju.Relay Screen |
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| The scene where Weizen hits Gwangju midfielder Shin Chang-moo in the face with his foot. Relay Screen |
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It wasn't the end here. In the second minute of extra time in the second half, Korean defender Park Joon-hyung of Cho Ho-roo was sent off for a dangerous tackle. It was a clear exit without even having to watch VAR. The match, in which a total of three players from both teams were sent off, ended in a 0-0 draw.
Yahia Nasser, a teammate of Al Ain (Arab Emirates) midfielder Park Yong-woo, was sent off in the 10th minute of the second half for a rough tackle in the away game of Parktakor (Uzbekistan). In the game where Park Yong-woo played full-time, the two teams exchanged one goal each and drew 1-1. Mohammad Hossein Eslami of Estegral (Iran) joined the 'Garinsha Club" where he scored his team's second goal in the 6th minute of the second half in an away match for al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) and was sent off for a tackle in the 30th minute.
As of the 3rd, a total of 16 people have been sent off. By team, Shanghai Hai River led the exit category with three, while Buriram, Johoru and Kawasaki collected two each. With the league stage turning around the halfway point and approaching the end, it is analyzed that excessive desire to win is being shown as an increase in the number of exits.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
