PETALING JAYA: The fallout from Kuching City’s heated FA Cup clash with Selangor is now in the hands of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) have submitted reports and evidence on the fracas involving players and officials during Sunday’s semi-final second leg match at the Taha Ariffin Stadium in Kuching.
The confrontation erupted near the Selangor bench as Kuching celebrated Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi’s late own goal in extra time, which sealed a 2-0 victory and a 3-2 aggregate triumph for The Cats.
Selangor coach Kim Pan-gon subsequently called for an investigation, alleging that Kuching midfielder Nazmi Faiz Mansor had approached the visitors’ bench to provoke him during the celebrations.
Pan-gon maintained that his players and staff had intervened to protect him.
Selangor midfielder Eduardo Sosa and fitness coach Joel Dones were shown red cards following the confrontation.
The Red Giants had entered the return leg holding a 2-1 advantage, but Safawi Rasid’s penalty levelled the tie on aggregate before Mukhairi’s own goal settled the contest late in extra time.
In a statement, MFL said information from the match commissioner, match coordinator, refereeing team, referee assessor and chief field officer had been forwarded to FAM for review and further action through their disciplinary committee.
The league is also examining what follow-up action it can take under its own regulations and jurisdiction.
MFL stressed that they would not compromise with any individual or party found responsible for causing disorder or behaving inappropriately, saying such conduct undermined the principles of sportsmanship.
Kuching, in their first ever FA Cup final, will face defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) for the title on Jan 16 next year.
