The jibe apparently angered Iran and Haydarov took a kick to the hip during the 2-1 loss that could rule him out of Saturday's clash with Malaysia, Rauf Inileyev said.

"It seems to me that Iran were a bit angry," Inileyev said. "I didn't see what he wrote on the paper in the press conference but I think he didn't mean it.

"He's young and he just wanted to stir things up a bit. He made a mistake and he realises that now.

"He's said sorry to Iranian officials and journalists. He just wanted to spice things up before the match."

The 22-year-old midfielder and Olympic captain faces a late fitness test on his injured hip but Uzbekistan will welcome back star striker Maksim Shatskikh, who was suspended for the Iran match.