Lebanon FA sack Frenchman Tardi

AFC – The Lebanese Football Association dumped French coach Richard Tardi after the team’s disappointing performances during the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Lebanese National side have had a hard time struggling to find the winning results after falling twice against Jordan 1-0 and 2-0 consecutively, a scenario made worse after being held to a 1-1 draw by DPR Korea.

Lebanon are now in third place in Group D with 4 points and their chances of qualifying to China 2004 are from slim to zero.

The Lebanese FA appointed a temporary committee to supervise on the Lebanese National team in the remaining two matches in the qualifiers where Lebanon will face Iran on November 19 and 28.

The new coaching team will be headed by the LFA General Secretary Bahij Abou Hamzeh. Ahed Syrian coach Mohammad Quwaid will be the general manager, Mahmoud Hammoud the assistant coach, and Ali Safa the administrative manager.

The new coach had a successful career in Lebanon so far. Quwaid steered minnows Shabab Sahel in 2001 to claim Lebanon Cup before coaching Ahed and converting them from a team endangered with relegation to a competitive side finishing in third place last year.