UPDATE: Raddy to serve touch-line ban

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SINGAPORE - Lions' coach Radojko Avramovic will not be sitting with his charges on the Singapore bench on Tuesday night when they host Iraq in the third round World Cup qualifiers.

The Football Association of Singapore confirmed that the 61-year-old Serb will serve an automatic one-match touchline ban after being sent to the stands in last Friday's 2-1 lost to China in Kunming.

Avramovic's vociferous protests following a couple of debatable decisions by Lebanese referee Andre El Haddad, was deemed to have crossed the line and the Serb will now be sitting in the stands.

Iraq is coached by Brazilian legend Zico, who previously was in charge of Japan.

The last time the two coaches faced each other was during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in 2004, when the Lions lost 2-1 in the first leg at Jalan Besar and then 1-0 in Japan in the return leg.

Avramovic's lieutenants on the Singapore bench will now be expected to relay his instructions to the players out on the pitch.

V Sundramoorthy, the FAS' specialist striker coach, has assumed the role of assistant coach in training sessions but is not accredited to sit on the Lions' bench during World Cup qualifying games.

The responsibility of directing the Lions' play on the pitch will be taken up by goalkeeper coach Lee Bee Seng, fitness trainer Aleksandar Bozenko and team manager Eugene Loo.

El Haddad's officiating was seen by many as a major factor contributing to the Lions' defeat in Kunming, and his decision to dismiss Avramovic may yet affect the Lions' hopes of making it into the fourth round qualifiers.