News Obiaks News

Former Chelsea FC Manager Andre Villas-Boas who currently manages Shanghai SIPG in China has become the subject of an investigation by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) following comments he made that somewhat questioned the credibility of the AFC and an opposition club.

The Shanghai SIPG coach saw his side defeat Guangzhou Evergrande to qualify for the semifinals of the Asian Champions League. Villas-Boas' side squeezed into the last four with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over the two-time champions having seen their 4-0 lead from the first leg wiped out.

"As a result of comments by the Shanghai SIPG FC head coach at the post-match press conference after the AFC Champions League match Guangzhou Evergrande FC vs. Shanghai SIPG FC on September 12, the AFC has opened disciplinary proceedings based on Article 50.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code (Bringing the game into disrepute)," the confederation said in a statement.

"The case will be dealt with by the AFC Disciplinary & Ethics Committee on a date to be confirmed."

Villas-Boas hit out at the officiating in both legs of the tie and hailed his team for securing the club's first ever appearance in the Asian Champions League semifinals, where they will meet Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.

"In the last game Fu Huan had a very clean slide tackle which led to his suspension in this match," Villas-Boas said after the game.

"Yan Junling is suspended for the first leg of the semifinal because the referee gave him a yellow card. The referee chose the end of the Guangzhou fans to take the penalties. The referee gives two red cards to our players.

"Zhang Linpeng should be suspended from this game because he used his elbow in the first game and he's not suspended because the committee of ethics and discipline at AFC did not judge an elbow as violent conduct.

"We come here on the bus for this game and the same two cars separately had three accidents in front of us. This is the problem.

"This is the greatest achievement for SIPG ever because it's against a club that is dominating the AFC.

"This club can do everything -- they can cause accidents in front of us, they have players who can elbow Elkeson and not be suspended -- and yet we won. The referee gave our goalkeeper a yellow card during the penalties and this is a disgrace. It's a disgrace.

"This is the biggest victory for SIPG and for these players, who gave everything until the end."