DOHA (Kyodo) Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima will be banned at least one game at the Asian Cup after the Japan Football Association botched the appeals process.
The Asian Football Confederation announced on Friday that Kawashima, who was given a straight red card in the 72nd minute of Japan's 2-1 victory over Syria a night earlier, will face a disciplinary hearing in the coming days when he could be sentenced to a longer suspension.
Kawashima was given his marching orders for tripping up Sanharib Malki inside the box — although the Syria striker was offside. Iranian referee Mohsen Torky told Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni that his team had back-passed, which allowed the decision to stand.
Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara said after Thursday's match that Japan would appeal Kawashima's expulsion, but failed to do so within two hours of the final whistle in writing, as determined by tournament regulations.
Speaking from Tokyo, JFA president Junji Ogura said, "I heard that we were planning on filing an appeal and I think we should definitely send something in writing anyway for future purposes."