AFC to let Saudi Arabia decide on Al-Shamrani

The Asian Football Confederation will let Saudi Arabia decide whether to discipline Nasser Al-Shamrani after he clashed with fans at an Asian Cup warm-up match.

Video footage shows Al-Shamrani, recently named Asian player of the year, shoving a fan who was leaning over the players’ tunnel as he made his way out before Tuesday’s friendly in Geelong, Victoria, which Saudi Arabia lost 4-1 to Bahrain.

Al-Shamrani then shouted back toward the spectators before being calmed by teammates.

The AFC declined to comment Thursday except to say the incident was outside of its control and was a matter for Saudi Arabian officials.

Al-Shamrani recently played for Al-Hilal in the Asian Champions League final, where he clashed with Western Sydney Wanderers defender Matthew Spiranovic.

The Saudi Arabian player was handed a six-game ban for spitting, plus an additional two-game ban for head-butting the Australia international. But he is free to play internationally as his suspension is only for Asian Champions League matches.

Saudi Arabia’s other scheduled Asian Cup practice match, against South Korea on Sunday, is set to be played at Parramatta Stadium - the Wanderers’ home ground.