There’s no place for the crass in the field of football

CLASS and crass. The two are words that are almost similar yet so far apart.

And in these past few weeks, we have seen both on display as far as football in Malaysia is concerned.

The game here is capable of class with some masterful moments, but off the field, we have seen some terribly crass acts.

Faisal Halim should be dribbling past opponents with his trickery and speed. Instead, he is confined to a hospital bed after an acid attack, which could see him missing the action for months.

Then we have Akhyar Rashid, robbed at his residence in Kuala Terengganu on May 2 but showing some class with strength and spirit – he returned to action on May 19 and played 75 minutes of football.

He was not his usual self on the pitch but the strength he showed in his return was something to inspire fellow professionals to overcome adversity.

Then there is veteran midfielder Safiq Rahim. He is supposed to be out there guiding youngsters at Padang Sri Gelam (PSG) Training Centre, a place almost like home. But near that home, two men tried to intimidate him by breaking his car windows there.

Then, two days ago, versatile defender Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee, one of the premier last-line players in the league, was left fearful when his house was burgled. He has revealed that it is was tough for him to even go home after the incident.

And all these happened in just one month. The fraternity is shaken and even sportswriters feel like crime reporters these days, trying to uncover the truth behind these episodes.

Why were they attacked? Were they just random acts? Was there intent behind it? If so, who would want to harm these players who bring joy to so many?

All the clubs in the league have shown their distaste, coming up with campaigns that say “No to violence in football”.

But the questions remain. Many say the incidents are not related to football because they did not happen in football-related places.

But football violence does not have to happen on such premises of the game. It can happen on the streets, on social media sphere. Even a simple phone call to intimidate is a form of violence against footballers.

Could they be just hate crimes? If so, who stoked the hate? The speculation is endless and, as long as the authorities do not come up with a definitive answer, it will be hard to stop people from making their theories and assumptions.

Even when the CCTV footage of the attack on Faisal incident went public, the police were caught flat-footed. They are now looking for whoever released the video as it was used for their investigations.

There is also the disjoint between the earlier police version of events and what is seen on the video.

Police just want to respect the feelings and privacy of the victim and his loved ones but, the fact is, there is a sense of frustration over what happened.

Everyone wants answers and all fans are stakeholders in the game. They deserve answers. We – the fans, the sportswriters, the players, the officials – all care for the wellbeing of Malaysian football.

It can be seen in the solidarity shown by many, especially among the players.

On social media and stadiums, the calls for safety and prayers for a better game showed why our nation thrives in adversity. It is this unity and peace that will drive us higher. Together, we can ensure the sanctity of the game.

What the game needs now is answers, and justice for the players. No one should endure what these four men went through.

They have put on some class acts for the fans over the years. Let that not be spoilt by the crass acts of a few misguided souls.