Johor regent slams football league for reducing Selangor FC's fine

Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has lambasted the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for reducing the Selangor FC’s fine.

The football club was fined RM100,000 after it failed to participate in the Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor last month.

“After this, any club that doesn’t pay salaries, withdraws itself as it likes, violates the league’s rules, can just ask the (state) ruler to write a letter in an angry tone.

“Every state team that commits wrongdoing can just ask the MFL to withdraw its punishment with the grace of their respective rulers’ letters,” he said sarcastically on Instagram.

Tunku Ismail, who owns JDT, warned that this action would create a precedent for football clubs across the country.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the real ‘tokong’ (deity) of Malaysian football,” he added.

Yesterday, the MFL reduced Selangor FC’s fine to RM60,000 after Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah slammed the organisation for the fine and for docking three points from the club.

Tunku Ismail pointed out that the Johor football team had been fined hundreds of thousands of ringgit since 2013.

He had been banned for six months too, he added.

“No Tuanku sultan of Johor issued a letter or statement (on the matter),” he said.

Compensation

The MFL had also rescinded its decision for Selangor FC's Super League Match Week 14 game against JDT to be played behind closed doors at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Stadium, saying fans can now attend the game.

However, Selangor FC will still have to compensate the host team JDT and the MFL for the losses incurred.

The governing body will compile information and the costs submitted by JDT and the MFL secretariat to be handed to Selangor FC for review.

Selangor FC said it will appeal against the MFL decision by June 30.

Last month, it withdrew from playing in the Charity Shield match after an acid attack on its winger Faisal Halim. Several of its other players had also received threats.

The club said the safety of its team was its main priority and it would not compromise on the matter.

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