Buriram United appeal Gonzalez ban
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Buriram United manager Tadthep Pitakpulsin has filed an appeal against Carmelo Gonzalez's suspension after the midfielder was sent off during the Thai Premier League leaders' 2-1 win away to Rachaburi in the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals.
The result secured a 3-1 aggregate win and sent Buriram through to the final against TPL rivals BEC Tero Sasana in October. However, the win was marred by the late dismissal of the Spaniard, who picked up two yellow cards.
The Football Association slapped the Spanish midfielder with an indefinite suspension from all domestic competitions after he reacted to the sending-off angrily by kicking a water bottle in the direction of a referee. The association said Gonzalez’s behaviour was unacceptable and it set a bad example.
Tadthep, whose side is currently topping the TPL table with 11 matches remaining, acknowledged that Gonzalez should be punished but said the association’s sanction was excessive.
“We don’t deny that Carmelo is guilty, and we have already punished him for his action internally. We don’t have any complaints about his suspension for the League Cup final.
“But we believe that suspending him from all competitions is excessive when compared to previous cases. The rules stipulate clearly the length of suspension a player gets for dissent.
“Carmelo’s ban has had a positive effect on us and galvanised our players to fight and prove that it won’t have any impact on our quest to win the league championship,” said Tadthep.
The Buriram manager joked he was considering taking Gonzalez to the Emerald Buddha Temple to make a vow in the event of the association rejecting his appeal. The Thai FA decided to lift controversial referee Thanom Borikut’s indefinite ban after he swore an oath at the same temple.
“Carmelo is a Christian. But if the association rejects our appeal, we might take him to make a vow just like the referees did, in hope it could lead to a reduction of his suspension. But need to find out which temple would be approved by the association,” quipped Tadthep.
