Japan has won Asian Cup quarter-final 4-3 against Jordan on spot-kicks on July 31. But the final penalty shootout infuriated the Jordanian side.

After missing two shots, the Japanese bench held up Jordan's second kick to protest about the condition of the turf around the penalty spot and persuaded the referee to switch ends.

To everyone's surprise, Malaysian referee Subkhiddin Salleh agreed to the Japanese protests and then ordered the teams to switch ends. Jordan promptly missed four of their six kicks at the other end.

While the referee came under fire from the Middle East side the AFC, the continental football governing body, has backed him. Meanwhile, AFC general secretary Peter Velappan denied that Japan had engaged in gamesmanship.

Source: China Radio International