SOCCER-WORLD/ASIA-MALAYSIA NEWSER Football Association of Malaysia faces suspension for fan actions
Record ID:
141270
SOCCER-WORLD/ASIA-MALAYSIA NEWSER Football Association of Malaysia faces suspension for fan actions
- Title: SOCCER-WORLD/ASIA-MALAYSIA NEWSER Football Association of Malaysia faces suspension for fan actions
- Date: 10th September 2015
- Summary: PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA (SEPTEMBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MALAYSIAN YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN SITTING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN SAYING: "I asked the Sports Commissioner to send a letter to FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) on the incident that took place during the match between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia at Shah Alam stadium on September 8. The letter is based on provision under the Sports Development Act that empowers the Sports Commissioner to instruct anyone to reveal any information. We already requested a full report on the incident that happened on September 8 to be presented in 14 days." REPORTERS REPORTER TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN SAYING: "Call FAM in to discuss the decline of Malaysian football after the Saudi game, but of course events have over taken that and now is the question of security, it is the question of public safety and it's a question of bringing the sport into disrepute by what happened on the eight (September 8). So my original plan was to call FAM in to talk about the overall decline of football, whether or not that led to a suspension I haven't decided yet, I said that was an option. But after the eighth, then things have changed obviously because is no longer as I said the question of the general of decline and the standard of football but it's become an international embarrassment." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS REPORTER LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTER TYPING ON PHONE KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN TALKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN SAYING: "In my postings on social media, both sides are at fault, both side are at fault, yeah? Many people on social media have excused the action of the fans especially in this particular case the Ultras Malaya for what they did because they said they had no other choice but to vent the frustration in such a manner. Look no matter how angry you are with FAM, everybody is angry with FAM including myself, you cannot do such a thing. This is absolutely not allowed and cannot be condoned." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 25th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA88GXQG44P30UI0XJMS9LPX1OI
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin on Thursday (September 10) called crowd trouble at a World Cup qualifier between Malaysia and Saudi Arabi, an "international embarrassment".
Asian soccer officials condemned the crowd disturbances that forced the abandonment of Tuesday's (September 8) World Cup qualifier in Malaysia and vowed to help the sport's world governing body FIFA with its investigation into the incident.
The match at the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor, was called off less than three minutes before fulltime after local fans launched flares and fireworks from the stands.
Players from both teams fled the pitch as thick smoke began filling the ground and did not return. The match was later abandoned and a report on the incident was sent to FIFA by the match commissioner, Rufus Prince of India.
Jamaluddin said a letter was sent to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
"I asked the Sports Commissioner to send a letter to FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) on the incident that took place during the match between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia at Shah Alam stadium on September 8. The letter is based on provision under the Sports Development Act that empowers the Sports Commissioner to instruct anyone to reveal any information. We already requested a full report on the incident that happened on September 8 to be presented in 14 days," he said during a news conference in Putrajaya.
"Call FAM in to discuss the decline of Malaysian football after the Saudi game, but of course events have over taken that and now is the question of security, it is the question of public safety and it's a question of bringing the sport into disrepute by what happened on the eight (September 8). So my original plan was to call FAM in to talk about the overall decline of football, whether or not that led to a suspension I haven't decided yet, I said that was an option. But after the eighth, then things have changed obviously because is no longer as I said the question of the general of decline and the standard of football but it's become an international embarrassment," Jamaluddin added.
FIFA has not yet announced any sanctions but typically takes a dim view of crowd disturbances, often handing out punishments including awarding 3-0 victories to the away team, issuing fines to the host nation and insisting future matches be played behind closed doors in empty stadiums.
The visiting Saudi Arabia team were leading 2-1 in the Group A Asian qualifier when play was stopped in the 87th minute after the trouble began.
Malaysia had led 1-0 when Mohd Safiq Rahim scored in the 70th minute but Saudi Arabia equalised three minutes later through Taisir Al-Jassim and took the lead after 76 minutes when Mohammed Al-Sahlawi scored.
Malaysia have slipped to 169th in the latest world rankings and are already bottom of the group standings after suffering a record 10-0 loss to United Arab Emirates, infuriating some local supporters who had threatened to protest during the match.
Malaysia's state news agency Bernama, citing police, said on Wednesday that "up to 11 people have been remanded" over the incident.
The Star Online said police were surprised at how the fans managed to get the fireworks into the stadium. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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