January 7, 2010
SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian footballers have claimed Kuwaiti fans shone lasers into their eyes during their Asian Cup qualifier in Kuwait City, reports said on Thursday.
Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and midfielder Dario Vidosic complained that they were targeted by fans armed with a laser pointer during the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.
Galekovic claimed a light was shone into his eyes, while Vidosic told team officials he was distracted by a laser beam while attempting to take corner kicks, Australian Associated Press reported.
Australian coach Pim Verbeek said he had mentioned the incidents to match officials pitchside during the first half.
"It was the goalkeeper (and) also at the corner kicks -- Dario Vidosic was taking the corner kicks and they were pushing a laser on his face," Verbeek told Fox Sports television after the game.
"I mentioned it to the officials, but that's okay. Things like this happen."
Verbeek was also highly critical of the state of the Al-Kuwait Sports Club Stadium pitch.
The Dutchman declared the bumpy playing surface was one of the worst pitches he had encountered in international football and said he had complained to the match commissioner about its condition on the eve of the game.
Reports said it was likely the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) would investigate the Australian team's complaints.
Australia need at least one point from their remaining home game against Indonesia in Brisbane in March to qualify for next January's Asian Cup finals in Qatar.
