SAFF Championship 2023: 'My actions weren't in heat of moment,' says Igor Stimac on red card

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A day after making it clear that he stands by his decision to stop a Pakistan player from taking a throw during their opening group game of SAFF Championship 2023, India coach Igor Stimac reaffirmed that his actions, leading to a brawl between players and coaching staff of both sides, wasn't in the heat of the moment.

Igor Stimac has been handed just a match suspension for the incident as SAFF officials believed that this action didn't merit any further disciplinary action. The coach saw the red card close to the hour mark of the game and had to watch the remainder of it from the stand as India demolished Pakistan 4-0 in a rain-soaked affair.

The 55-year-old Croatian, who made it clear in his tweet that his actions were to defend his team as he is a warrior, said he will always protect his players and preferred seeing red cards instead of his boys.

"Whatever decision I made wasn't in the heat of the moment but with a cool head and knowing that there would be a sanction after it. I'm there to protect my boys and my team. It's better I get the cards than them," Stimac told media ahead of the game.

Ahead of the next game against Nepal, which the coach will have to watch from the stand, Igor Stimac refused to take Nepal lightly in their upcoming encounter despite having a 16-2 head-to-head against the FIFA 174th-ranked side, who has a changed in football style with new coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese.

"We had played against them earlier. We had our video sessions on them. They are a very good side and they play fearless football. Nepal changed their coach a few months ago. He is trying to bring and implement a new philosophy to their game. But we're not thinking about them. Our only concern is us and where we can improve. We need to maintain the good momentum as far as possible," Stimac said.

Igor Stimac will return to the dugout for the Kuwait match on June 27 while assistant coach Mahesh Gawli will be managing the game against Nepal and will be officially responsible for the changes during the match.