KELANTAN striker Jack Hindle got away with a warning from FAM for pushing the referee during a Premier League match against Perak II on March 6.
FAM were not amused with the Englishman though it seemed that referee Amirul Aizat Lodin was hindering Hindle from running into position to score, and the player, in trying to get the referee out of the way, pushed him down.
It was a case of Amirul being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But FAM took a serious view of the incident and hauled Hindle up before the disciplinary committee yesterday.
It seems FAM had decided to give Hindle a slap on the wrist though on Tuesday, former national referee Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh said FAM should take stern punishment against players who disrespect match officials.
Another incident in which JDT's Natxo Insa was alleged to have shoved the referee in Sunday's match against Perak, is still pending.
After no cards were given by the referees in both the matches, Subkhiddin has called for stern action to be taken to ensure players respect match officials and the rules of the game.
Yesterday, the FAM disciplinary committee found Hindle guilty in violation of Article 59, which only warranted a warning. Should he repeat his offence, a more severe punishment will be given.
In other decisions, disciplinary committee chairman Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu said Melaka United's Alex Dos Santos Goncalves was in violation of the same article and was given a warning.
However, PJ City's Khairil Anuar Ahmad Zamri was handed a two-match suspension for "diving" during the clash against Melaka United, which resulted in a 2-2 draw on March 10.
Khairil, better known as Beto, will not be allowed to play Terengganu on April 2 and Kuala Lumpur City on April 7.
"The player (Khairil) was also issued with a stern warning and a heavier punishment will be given if he repeats the offence."
Selangor II player Hein Htet Aung was slapped with a one match suspension for using a symbol with "political" intentions during the match against Police on March 6.
"His action was unsportsmanlike in displaying a political symbol during the match against Police."