Two of the AFC Cup more prominent names have managed to make a few waves outside the big white rectangle — waves that got the Asian confederation’s attention.

Japanese star Keisuke Honda and Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz have each been fined for criticizing officials. Honda’s wallet is $5,000 lighter after claiming Japan’s opening match victory over Palestine was so rough, it was “like playing basketball.” To the extent that’s rough.

Queiroz’s fine comes after he complained officials during last Sunday’s Iran-Qatar match were unwilling to communicate.

“After 32 years of my work in football I was never told I cannot give an opinion about the game,” Queiroz explained. “Maybe it’s only because of the sponsors.”

Critiques of the officiating continued on Sunday, with many focusing on Australian official Ben Williams. The Australian referee , has infuriated many fans, player and TV commentators by his shoddy calls and inconsistent decisions.  Though Williams gave out six yellow cards (three to each team) in Uzbekistan’s win over Saudi Arabia, Qosimov derided Williams’ reluctance to curtail diving. Williams whistle for the penalty for Saudi Arabia looked more than suspicious. If there was any foul on the slight contact , it was in fact the Saudi forward who clipped Denisov’s legs and the call should have been in favor of the Uzbek defender.

The fine on Carlos Queiroz was a flagrant declaration of obsession by the AFC that fears the slightest of criticism, not very different from the political systems that is prominent in Asia, especially the western parts.