State ruler backs S'gor FC's decision to withdraw, chides football league

Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has backed Selangor FC’s decision not to participate in an upcoming match with Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) in Johor for the Charity Shield 2024 event.

This comes after several football players were attacked by unknown persons.

The ruler also expressed disappointment with the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for rejecting Selangor FC’s appeal for the games to be postponed.

“As the patron of Selangor FC, the decision made by the team is apt given the incidents that had occurred to our players.

“As of now, our priority must be to ensure the safety of the players and not win a cup,” the sultan said via the Selangor Royal Office Facebook.

On May 2, national player Akhyar Rashid, who is with Terengganu FC, was attacked and robbed in Kuala Terengganu.

He was hit with a blunt object and suffered injuries to his head and body.

On May 5, Selangor FC winger Faisal Halim suffered an acid attack at a shopping mall in the Klang Valley.

JDT skipper Safiq Rahim became the third footballer to be attacked.

The incident occurred when he was driving along Jalan Sri Gelam, Johor Bahru on Tuesday night and was closed in by two suspects on a motorcycle before one of them used a hammer to break his rear windscreen.

Earlier today, JDT CEO Alistair Edwards expressed his team’s disappointment with Selangor FC’s withdrawal.

This was despite assurances from the inspector-general of police and the Johor police chief that the safety of the teams, players, and fans would be prioritised, and that police presence would be tripled to 1,500 personnel, he said.

‘This is serious issue’

On that note, Sultan Sharafuddin said apart from safety concerns, the Selangor team’s morale was also affected after the assault on Faisal.

With that, the ruler urged everyone to stop any form of violence involving sports.

“Unlike previous incidents, this is a serious matter and it took place close to an upcoming match.

“And Selangor FC is ready to face any action following our decision to not participate in the tournament.”

On a related matter, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that despite the assault, Faisal was in good spirits.

“He even gave me a smile and that was enough for me to say that our football industry is still in high spirits,” Yeoh was reported as saying by Sinar Harian yesterday, adding that she would reach out to Faisal’s family to check on their well-being.

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