Selangor Ruler slams MFL

PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Selangor has hit out at the Malaysian Football League (MFL) over a move to punish the Selangor FC for its absence from a Charity Shield match, saying that the decision was made “without compassion”.

“I am angered (murka) by the MFL decision, which to me is irresponsible, inhumane, made without compassion and did not take into account the injustice that occurred,” said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

The punishment – a RM100,000 fine, compensation for losses incurred by MFL and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) as the host team, a deduction of three points, and the home game between Selangor and JDT to be played in Petaling Jaya without spectators – was “excessive and illogical”, the Sultan said.

Furthermore, he said the opponent had already been awarded the victory.

The match against JDT was to have taken place on May 10 in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

But five days earlier, on May 5, Selangor player Faisal Halim suffered grievous injuries in an acid attack.

This led to Selangor FC asking for a postponement, but when MFL refused to do so, the club withdrew from the Charity Shield game for security reasons.

Yesterday, Sultan Sharafuddin issued a strongly worded statement, taking to task the MFL, members of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), and in particular FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.

The Sultan voiced his “shock and disappointment” at Hamidin for not speaking out, even though he was once Selangor FA’s secretary-general.

According to Sultan Sharafuddin, he had granted Selangor FC permission to request a postponement of the Charity Shield match because the Selangor players had been traumatised and were scared (following the attack on Faisal and other football-related incidents).

“However, the MFL refused the request and awarded a 3-0 win as well as the trophy to the opponent,” the Sultan said.

The Sultan pointed out that he had been involved in local football from 1968 until 1990, during the time when the Football Association of Selangor (FAS) was led by Datuk Seri Harun Idris.

“During that period, I have never seen a situation such as this. This sport, which is supposed to be a platform for unity among the races and the people, is now tainted by violence.

“To make matters worse, the MFL and FAM are completely not serious in voicing out and not taking precautions that are necessary to address violence against players,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.

(Besides the acid attack on Faisal, Terengganu player Akhyar Rashid was injured during a robbery near his home in Kuala Terengganu on May 2.)

Sultan Sharafuddin said that he is only a patron of FAS now.

“But if I were helming FAS and Selangor FC, I would not hesitate to pull the Selangor team out of the Super League for a period of time,” he said.

The Ruler said that football was a much-loved game and a unifying factor among Malaysians.

“Such excessive action by MFL goes against this spirit and only damages the image of local football and the support of the public towards this sport that we all love,” the Sultan said.

The MFL, the Ruler said, should weigh its decisions carefully.