Wei committed an unsportsmanlike act against Manh during Wuhan Three Towns FC’s match against Hanoi FC on November 8. As a result, he received a red card in the 75th minute.
After reviewing the incident, AFC has decided to suspend Wei for three matches and impose a fine of US$1,000. This means that Wei will not be able to participate in Wuhan Three Towns’ remaining matches in Group J against Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan and Pohang Steelers from South Korea.
If Wuhan Three Towns advances to the next stage, Wei’s suspension will carry over to the following match. However, if they do not advance, the penalty will be applied in the next AFC Champions League participation.
In addition to the suspension and fine, AFC has issued a warning to Wei, stating that the fine may increase if he continues to violate the rules in the future.
Wei’s misconduct has also received strong criticism from Chinese football fans and the media. Chinese-language newspaper Sohu commented that his unacceptable behavior leading to the red card has faced widespread condemnation.
This is not the first time Wei has faced severe penalties. He was previously suspended for six matches in the Chinese Super League (CSL) for insulting a referee last year.
The 2023-24 ACL is the 42nd edition of Asia’s premier club football tournament, featuring 40 teams from 20 associations. The teams were divided into ten groups of four.
The winner of the tournament will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Hanoi FC is the only representative from Vietnam participating in this year’s ACL.
