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By ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORT REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 17: 14 AEDT, 7 March 2026 | Updated: 17: 22 AEDT, 7 March 2026 16 View comments Matildas captain Sam Kerr has clarified why her teammates appear to have been snubbing fans at the Asian Cup - and the game that will likely haunt her until she retires from international football. Kerr, who scored the winner against the Philippines in Perth on March 1, confirmed why players often head to the sheds soon after the final whistle. 'The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) rules are a bit stricter, ' she posted on Snapchat. 'We want to come over (and thank supporters), but they (AFC officials) want to clear the stadiums. ' Australia's greatest ever goal-scorer was responding to a post on the Matildas and A-League Women Supporters Group on Facebook, with some page members frustrated that players were not engaging with fans. It comes as Kerr, who will be a key figure for the Tillies in their next Asian Cup clash versus South Korea in Sydney on March 8, has recalled a previous clash against the Asian heavyweights that she can't erase from her mind. Matildas captain Sam Kerr has clarified why her teammates appear to have been snubbing fans at the Asian Cup Kerr confirmed players often head to the sheds soon after the final whistle as they are instructed to do so by Asian Football Confederation officials Kerr is now focused on leading the Matildas in their next Asian Cup match against South Korea It was the quarter-final of the 2022 Asian Cup - and the Matildas were eliminated from the tournament. 'I missed a sitter, I think about that quite often, ' Kerr told News Corp. 'We hit the crossbar, we hit everything that day. And then (Ji-Son-yun) put one in the top corner in the last few moments. ' Ji and Kerr were previously teammates at Chelsea. 'She is such a great player, ' Kerr added. 'You have to always watch her. They (South Korea) have so many great players, but I think Ji is one of those that can really change the game in a second. 'I think if we take our chances and play to the best of our ability, we are one of the best teams in the world. 'But it is tournament football and you always have to be ready. ' Sunday’s game at Sydney Olympic Park will determine who tops Group A and then doesn’t have to leave Sydney for the knockout stage. Kick-off is 8pm AEDT, with live coverage on Channel 10 and Paramount +.
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