Football: Myanmar fined $31,000 over fans' pitch invasion in youth tournament

KUALA LUMPUR - Asia's football governing body has warned Myanmar they will be ordered to play behind closed doors if they fail to rein in their fans after fining them US$24,000 (S$30,600) for a pitch invasion last week.

Dozens of people descended onto the pitch, cheering and singing in celebration, after Myanmar beat the United Arab Emirates in Friday's AFC U-19 Championship quarter-final in Yangon, according to an AFP reporter at the match.

The Asian Football Confederation's disciplinary committee fined the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) US$24,000 after finding it had failed "to guarantee law and order as well as safety at the venue", the AFC said in a statement on Monday.

"The MFF has been strongly advised by the AFC disciplinary committee to take all action necessary to control their spectators in future matches," it said, warning that one more incident would lead to them having to play without spectators.

Myanmar will meet Qatar in the U-19 championship semi-finals on Monday.

Hooliganism at Myanmar's football matches is common.

Last December, police fired water cannon to disperse rioting Myanmar football fans who tore up seats, burned shirts a