NEW DELHI, Aug 10: North Korean striker Choe Myong-ho has been banned for six international games and fined by the Asian soccer body for poor behaviour which marred Thursday's AFC Challenge Cup semi-final loss against holders Tajikistan.

Choe, sent off for spitting on Tajikistan's Davrondzhon Tukhtasunov, was also fined $3,000 while team mate Pak Nam-chol, who was also shown the red card, was suspended for one game by the Asian Football Confederation's disciplinary committee.

Tukhtasunov was given a two-match ban and fined for striking Korea's Yun Yong-il on the head while shaking hands after the final whistle, the AFC said on Sunday.

The trio will miss the final matches in the AFC Challenge Cup, whose winner will qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.—Reuters