KARACHI, Dec 20: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Friday blamed their former British coach John Layton for recent suspensions and fines imposed by Asia’s governing football body for fielding over-age players.

“The suspension and fine is a great setback for us and we think it was all due to our British coach Layton who was responsible for the selection process,” PFF secretary Agha Liaquat Ali told AFP.

Last week the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) slapped fines and sanctions on Pakistan and Yemen for fielding over-age players in Asia’s Under-17 Football Cup main rounds held in the United Arab Emirates in September.

The AFC said eight Pakistanis and four Yemeni players were found to be too old after X-ray examination.

Layton, who was sent here by the AFC under its development programme, left Pakistan last year after the suspensions.

Before his departure, Layton told a newspaper he blamed PFF for fielding the over-age players and said nepotism and poor selections were Pakistani football’s main hurdles.

Ali said the PFF has also strongly disputed the AFC’s findings in the case.

“Our doctors also took X-rays of players’ wrists that proved they were within the required age and we have written to the AFC to send their X-rays so that we can match them with ours,” Ali said.

The over-age players and managers of both teams are suspended for two years, while Pakistan and Yemen would be suspended from taking part in the next AFC Under-17 event in 2004. Both countries are also fined US$ 10,000.

The AFC has said there is no right to an appeal.—AFP