Lion City Sailors have been handed a major lifeline in the AFC Champions League Two quarter-finals after the first-leg result was overturned to a 3-0 victory in their favor—following Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s mistake in fielding a suspended player.
The player in question, Valère Germain, made his debut in the match against the Sailors, coming off the bench in the 69th minute and scoring his team’s fifth goal in the 74th minute. However, it has since emerged that he was ineligible to play, as he was still serving a three-match suspension imposed on him last March.
Germain’s suspension stemmed from an incident while playing for his previous club, Macarthur FC, in the now-defunct AFC Cup. During the ASEAN Zone final against Central Coast Mariners, he was involved in a post-match altercation, which led to a retrospective three-match ban, despite not receiving an in-game red card.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that Germain was indeed ineligible for the first leg, awarding Lion City Sailors a 3-0 win and imposing a US$1,000 fine on Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Additionally, the match now counts as the first of Germain’s three-game suspension.
This ruling dramatically shifts the balance of the tie, as the Sailors now enter the return leg at Jalan Besar Stadium on March 11 with a three-goal advantage to defend.
While Sanfrecce initially dismantled the Sailors in the first leg, they must now overcome a significant deficit, making for an intense and unpredictable second-leg clash. Meanwhile, the Sailors, who seemed on the brink of elimination, now have a golden opportunity to make history by advancing to the semi-finals.
It remains surprising that a club of Sanfrecce’s stature made such a costly oversight, particularly as Japanese teams are renowned for their meticulous organization. Germain, signed at the end of February, was expected to be a key reinforcement, especially with influential playmaker Tolgay Arslan sidelined for up to six months due to injury.
With everything to play for, the return leg promises to be a thrilling battle as both teams fight for a coveted spot in the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals.
Credit Photo : AFC
