PETALING JAYA: The Merdeka Tournament at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil is set to be a quiet affair.
Ultras Malaya have decided to boycott the football tournament that will be held from Sept 4-8.
The group announced their decision on their social media pages yesterday. Their absence would surely be felt as they play a huge role in fanning the fire of supporters with their chants and cheers on match days.
They claimed that they were seeking justice.
“We are boycotting because the criminal cases on national footballers have not been solved, the sudden resignation of Kim Pan-gon and also attacks on fans during league matches in the past,” posted one of the fan group members.
Ultras Malaya was formed in 2007, which brought together fans from all walks of life regardless of religion, economic status and educational background.
They are a combination of several fan groups from various states.
The tweet also got responses from other state ultras, who said they would boycott the tournament.
The ones who have gone public are City Boys (Kuala Lumpur), UN9 (Negri Sembilan), Panthers (Penang) and Elephant Army (Pahang).
These Ultras groups also added that they were boycotting due to poor management of the league by the Malaysian Football League (MFL).
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman was not available for comments on the situation.
He, however, had stated earlier that fans would continue to show up even in the absence of Pan-gon.
“FAM are not fretting because Pau Marti Vicente and the other coaches are still here. I do not see it as an issue. The Pan-gon playing philosophy will be there.”
Even Vicente has urged fans to come to the stadium for Merdeka Tournament.
“We need the support from the fans. I think Bukit Jalil without Harimau Malaya fans is not the same. We will make sure they will enjoy the game,” said Vicente.
“We need to make sure everyone can come and support the team. Create the right atmosphere, so that the opponents will have difficulties playing us.”
