LionsXII Team Talk: Lions Hopes For A Better Set Of Referee On Their Match Against Pahang

The LionsXII coach, Fandi Ahmad was left to mourn the missed penalty calls that he felt had set back all of his team’s three points against Sime Darby, something he says has been a pattern recently.

The unbelievably disappointing home defeat against Sime Darby on Saturday night had left LionsXII coach Fandi Ahmad fuming, not simply from the poor execution of his players who he impacted for 'not showing up', but also of the referee’s decisions.

Talking in a post-match TV interview, the LionsXII coach looked unmistakably baffled as recalls the reliably poor officiating against LionsXII which he felt had taken a toll on his team’s match.

Before highlighting in a succeeding post-match interview that two punishment choices, a handball and a push, had not been given, Fandi said that, “it was a clear penalty in the first-half, it should have opened up the game."

"Generally we never get any penalties in the last seven, eight, nine games. We could have had five penalties in the last few games but I knew they were not going to give us any penalties."

Fandi repeated that he felt “justice was not done” and had the right choices been made in addition to the fact that it would have “opened up the floodgates” yet it might likewise have given his team the opportunity to get each those three points.

Fandi was asked if his team could have won otherwise, he answered, "Definitely. definitely, there's no two ways about it."

"That was clear (penalty) and he (the referee) was about to blow the whistle but then he decided not to,cso it's very sad for us."

Sime Darby coach, Ismail Zakaria then again was brisk to credit the LionsXII expressing that his side had been "lucky" to win.

In a post-match interview, Ismail said, "I know it is not easy to beat the Lions at home, artificial grass, actually our plan is to get a compact game going, to be more defensive. We got lucky tonight, we got the goal before Singapore (LionsXII). If you see, throughout the game, it was controlled by the Lions, they tried again and again to get a goal."

Ismail additionally expressed that the LionsXII's shots of holding the title were not out span however, the absence of a fitting striker had disappointed them.

Ismail also added that, "They have a group of boys with discipline and character, but the only thing is they can't finish, they don’t have a striker."

"You believe me, next game, any team they (LionsXII) meet they will beat them."

Fandi was believed to have called an early Sunday morning exercise session for the LionsXII after the aftermath from Saturday's match and expressed that he won't be charging an official complaint against the referees.

"No point complaining because they're all the same.

I'm very disappointed about the referee. So bad, this is the first time I'm telling you. This is very sad for football actually."

"It's ok, but we will prepare well this time [against Pahang FA] hopefully we'll have a better referee."