KUALA LUMPUR: Jordanian footballer Yazan Al-Arab, who kicked a Malaysian referee in the buttocks and who is banned for life from the M-League, could be back to haunt Harimau Malaya.
The former Selangor player is included in Jordan's 26-man team for the Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, next month.
Yazan, 27, made headlines last month after he was alleged to have cussed, spat and kicked referee Hasrol Amir during the Malaysia Cup quarter-final second leg against Terengganu.
And it could be payback time for Yazan, who left Malaysia in anger when he faces Harimau Malaya in Doha.
World No. l30 Malaysia, making a return to the Asian Cup on merit after 42 years, will play No. 87 Jordan in their Group E opener on Jan 15.
The other Jordan player in their Asian Cup team, who is familiar with Malaysian football is midfielder Noor Al Rawabdeh.
He has been playing in the M-League and is set to face some of his Selangor teammates — Brendan Gan, Faisal Halim and Khuzaimi Piee — in the Asian Cup.
However, Jordan's build-up for the continental showpiece, under Moroccan coach Hussein Ammouta, has not been impressive.
The Chivalrous Ones lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier last month and went down 2-1 to Lebanon in an international friendly recently. They drew 1-1 against Tajikistan.
