Villas-Boas fined $14,000 for criticising referee

Shanghai coach expressed his anger on match officials after ACL quarter-final win over Guangzhou two weeks ago

LONDON: Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas has been fined $14,000 for his criticism of the referees following the Asian Champions League quarter-final win over Guangzhou Evergrande two weeks ago.

The Portuguese was investigated by the Asian Football Confederation for his outburst following the second leg of the quarter-final against the Chinese Super League rivals in Guangzhou.

The AFC's disciplinary committee fined him for his "offensive words" at the referee during his post-match media conference in Guangzhou, the governing body said in a media release on Tuesday.

Villas-Boas had said the referees favoured Guangzhou during the two legs of the quarter-final and claimed the AFC were influenced by the powerful southern China club.

Villas-Boas's side face Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium outside Tokyo on Wednesday in the first-leg of the ACL semi-final.

The return meeting will be staged at Shanghai Stadium on October 18, with the winners facing either Iran's Persepolis or Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the final in November.