Qatar coach facing touchline ban after outburst

HANOI, July 10 (Reuters) Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic faces a touchline ban after being sent off for a furious outburst during his side's Asian Cup opener against Japan.

Qatar's creditable 1-1 draw with the holders in yesterday's Group B game in Hanoi was marred when the Bosnian was ordered down the tunnel for protesting Hussain Yaser's late red card.

''We don't know how long any suspension will be,'' Asian Football Confederation (AFC) media officer Chetan Kulkarni told Reuters today.

''We are awaiting the final decision after the disciplinary committee studies the referee's report.'' Musovic gave Australian referee Matthew Breeze a verbal volley for dismissing Yaser in stoppage time with a straight red card for a foul on Japan substitute Hideo Hashimoto.

Breeze responded by instructing Musovic to join Yaser in taking an early walk down the tunnel -- just moments after Qatar had snatched a dramatic late equaliser.

Former Manchester City player Yaser will now miss Qatar's next game against co-hosts Vietnam on Thursday while Musovic is also likely to be banished to the stands.

''I was right next to the incident and in a better position than the referee,'' Musovic snapped. ''He was too quick to give a red card. That was not a football decision.'' REUTERS TB KP1707