The Asian Football Confederation Appeals Committee will meet Friday to hear and decide on the appeal from China Super League club Shandong Luneng.

Luneng appealed for a reduction in the suspensions on Coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic and players Zheng Zhi and Predrag Padzin, all for serious violations of discipline during their match against AL Ittihad in September.

In addition to financial sanctions, the AFC had banned the coach for six months, Zheng drew a suspension of six months and Pazin was banned for 18 months. FIFA later increased the scope of the bans worldwide.

The meeting will also hear the appeal by the AFC for a higher financial sanction against UAE club Al Ahli for their failure to report for an AFC Champions League group match against Neftchi Fergana of Uzbekistan in May 2005. 

(CRI December 1, 2005)