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S-LEAGUE club Super Reds could be in hot water after ugly scenes marred their 1-1 draw with Albirex Niigata at the Jurong East Stadium on Wednesday.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) may take action against the Korean club, after their captain Nam Woung Ki confronted the referee Abas Daud late in the game.
Nam was given his second yellow card of the game in the 90th minute, following a robust challenge on an opponent.
He then refused to leave the pitch and had to be restrained by both players and officials.
It is understood that at least one senior official from the Super Reds also behaved aggressively.
The unrest was reflected in the stands, as the 2,700-strong crowd reacted to the last-minute uproar. One fan threw a bottle at the referee, but missed.
Police were then called onto the field to defuse the tension. No arrests were made.
When contacted by The Straits Times, the FAS' director of competitions Quah Kim Song confirmed that the football authorities have viewed tapes of the match and are looking into the matter.
'We have received reports about the incidents, and we have written to the clubs to ask them to explain their actions,' he said.
It is understood that Albirex would be asked to provide details of their security measures.
The Super Reds, on the other hand, will have to answer for the conduct of their players and officials.
Both teams will also have to account for their fans' behaviour. They have until Monday to respond.
The match itself was a fiery affair, with Daud sacking three players - two from the Super Reds and one from Albirex. He also dished out six yellow cards to the Super Reds, including the two that Nam received.
Said the FAS referees' committee chairman Jeffrey Beh: 'Based on reports I have received, the referee did well, considering it was a difficult match to officiate.'
When contacted, both clubs played down the incidents.
Said Super Reds assistant coach R. Balasubramaniam: 'Everyone wanted to go for a win, and matches between a Japanese club and a Korean club will always be fiery.'
Albirex vice-chairman Bogdan Brasoveanu said that the tie was played 'in good spirit'.
'It was a pity the crowd got too agitated, but the players shook hands after the game,' he said. 'For us, the case is closed.'
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