Sarawak face long list of suspension ahead of Cup tie

Not cool: Negri Sembilan‘s Mohd Zamri Pin Ramli (left) was hit on the chest deliberately by Sarawak United’s Mohd Sharbinee Allawee Ramli (not in picture) in their Premier League clash on Sept 10. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak United’s joy of promotion to the Super League has been marred with a long list of suspension.

And the untimely setback is bound to affect their performance in the Malaysia Cup starting on Sept 25.

Their No. 1 goalkeeper Mohd Sharbinee Allawee Ramli has been suspended for five matches for misconduct and unsportsmanlike behaviour shown against an opposing player and referee in the Premier League match against Negri Sembilan on Sept 10.

He was found to have hit the chest of player Mohd Zamri Pin Ramli deliberately (first charge) and after given a red card, he had pushed the referee (second charge) and had eventually punched the substitution board held by the fourth official (third charge).

“The player was given a two-match suspension including one automatic match suspension and a fine of RM3,000 for the first charge,” said the disciplinary committee chairman Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu in a statement released to the press yesterday.

He also received a two-match ban (RM2,000 fine) for the second charge and one match-match suspension for the third (RM2,000 fine). His teammates Mohd Badrul Affendy Mohd Fadzli and Mohd Amer Saidin have also been served two-match bans respectively for joining in the ruckus.

All of them will not get to play in the Premier League match against Johor Darul Ta’zim II on Tuesday, which is the last match in the second division as they have confirmed a spot for Super League next year.

And they will also miss some of the action in the Malaysia Cup – with Sharbinee having to sit out the longest.

Two team officials – Abang Fomay Abang Sa’adeli has been suspended for two matches and fined RM10,000 while Rudy Bujang was given a six-month suspension from engaging in any football activities. They were penalised as the disciplinary committee found their actions lacked sporting spirit in the same match.

To add salt to injury, their head coach E. Elavarasan has been served with a stern warning for making statements to media on the match, which had violated the code of conduct set by the FAM.

“Elavarasan was initially suspended for 12 months from engaging in any football activities and a fine of RM10,000 but the committee have decided to adopt Article 35 of the FAM disciplinary code where the suspension sentence is suspended in advance subject to the good conduct of this official for 12 months,” said Baljit.

“If the same offence is repeated within 12 months, then the 12-month suspension will be enforced immediately against him.”

Baljit, however, added that Sarawak could appeal against all the decisions but warned that heavier punishment would be meted out if there were repeat offenders.