Johor Crown Prince: We should thank retired footballers

PETALING JAYA: The Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, has defended the four Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football players who announced their retirement from the national football squad, saying the people should thank them instead of criticising their decision.  

"You commented about the retirement of some players and made statements as if they did not serve the country and win anything with the national team.  

"Why is it so difficult to respect their decision? There's only one thing you should say about them or to them, which is 'thank you'. Thank you for their sacrifices all these while. That's it," he said in a statement on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page on Monday.  

The four football players who announced their retirement from the national squad last week was skipper Safiq Rahim, 28; centreback Mohd Aidil Zafuan, 29; rightback S. Kunalan, 29; and midfielder Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal, 30.  

Among the critics of the football players' decision was former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar.  

It was reported in a Malay daily that Raja Ahmad Zainuddin had called out the footballers for retiring without any valid reason and claimed that it should be viewed seriously as it might become a trend among other players.  

He also said that those who announced their retirement from the national squad but still played full time with clubs would be better off quitting football altogether.  

Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) president Tan Sri Annuar Musa was also reported as saying that they would not stop players from choosing to retire from the national squad, but should they do so, they will also have to retire from playing for the state as long as they are under KAFA.  

"You don't need to show me and the current generation that you as old-timers are struggling to accept that the world and times have changed," Tunku Ismail continued against the critics.  

"What's strange is that after all these years, all of you can accept and stand the 30 years of corruption within FAM," said the crown prince who is also the JDT club owner.  

He also alleged that he had a pendrive containing details of wrongdoings in FAM, adding that maybe it was time that football supporters in the country see the truth and judge the situation for themselves.