Yahoo News Lion City Sailors players fined for skipping post-match handshake: report
SINGAPORE — Lion City Sailors players Maxime Lestienne, Kim Shin-wook and Diego Lopes were each fined $500 by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), for refusing to shake their opponents hands after a Singapore Cup tie.
The incident happened at the end of the Sailors' 1-1 draw against the Young Lions. FAS told The Straits Times that the trio were fined as the post-match handshake is mandatory.
Under Article 31.1 of the Singapore Cup 2022 regulations, it states that players from both the teams are required to assemble at the centre circle with the match officials for a post-match handshake.
"Any player who fails to do so shall be issued with a mandatory fine of $500,” the regulation said.
The Sailors’ sporting director Badri Ghent said the three players have apologised for their conduct. He added, “Their actions were borne out of frustration from the team’s performance and the result of that game, and they have given their firm commitment to ensuring there will be no repeat of such actions.
“The club does not condone unsportsmanlike behaviour and will not contest the fines that have been meted out.”
Season woes for Sailors
It has not be a season to remember for the Sailors, Singapore's first privatised football club.
They were unsuccessful in their Singapore Premier League (SPL) title defence, being undone by a late losing streak that allowed Albirex Niigata (Singapore) to overtake them for the championship.
They were also fined $5,000 by the FAS after a fiery SPL clash with Tampines Rovers in August, which saw their previous head coach Kim Do-hoon head-butting a Tampines official. He resigned shortly after the incident.
They have also struggled out of the gates at the Singapore Cup, with two consecutive draws against lowly Balestier Khalsa and the Young Lions. They will have to beat Albirex in their final group match on Saturday to progress to the semi-finals.
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