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JINAN, East China, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- China FA
Cup holder Shandong Luneng is considering appealing against the bans imposed by
the AFC on China international midfielder Zheng Zhi, Bulgarian defender Predrag
Pazin and coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic, local media reported.
The AFC announced last Thursday the
bans and fines handed out by its disciplinary committee to the players and coach
following incidents during Shandong's AFC Champions quarter-final second
legdefeat against Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on September 21.
Pazin was banned from club and international football
for 18 months and given a 4,500-US-dollar fine while Zheng picked up a six month
ban and 4,500-dollar fine after verbally abusing and spitting at referee Mohsen
Ghahremani of Iran. Tumbakovic was banned from holding any official position at
any clubs at the international and domestic level for six months and also fined
4,500 dollars after physically assaulting an assistant referee.
FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that it had extended the
sanctions imposed on Pazin and Zheng worldwide, which will prevent them
fromplaying in any friendly or official matches at club and international level
for the duration of the ban.
However, the China Super League club wants to appeal
the sanctions through the China Football Association and is reportedlygathering
information on the case.
"We are undertaking the normal process for appeal and
we will launch the appeal to AFC once the necessary materials are ready," the
club's general manager Dong Gang was quoted as saying by the Jinan-based Qilu
Evening News.
While Shandong is preparing for a crucial showdown
against China Super League champion Dalian Shide in the China FA Cup finalon
Sunday, the trio in question will not be available for service.
Victory for current cup holder Shandong in the FA Cup
final would give it a spot in next season's AFC Champions League, but defeat
would send China Super League runners-up Shanghai Shenhua into the continental
competition along with Dalian. Enditem | 
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