KUALA LUMPUR – The National Sports Council has issued a show cause letter to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for breaching the Safe Sport Code in a recent brawl after a Suparimau League match.
Speaking to Scoop, Safe Sport Code safeguarding officer Melissa Akhir said that the national football body has to respond to the council after a thorough investigation of the incident.
“FAM is part of the national sports associations, which has signed the commitment to the Safe Sport Code, and they are responsible for the brawl that occurred as the Suparimau League falls under their jurisdiction.
“The football body must take responsibility as they have clearly violated the Sports Development Act 1997 by failing to prevent any form of violence that may affect the mental and physical well-being of individuals in sporting events.
“I believe that FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman has received the show cause letter from our side, and I hope he urges the investigation team to expedite the inquiry process.
“We also plan to reach out to the victims involved in the brawl soon,” said Melissa.
Melissa explained that the letter was sent to FAM soon after the altercation broke out, this week.
At the same time, FAM grassroots unit head Cameron Ng recently told Scoop that the football body is investigating the matter before taking any action against those involved.
A viral 16-second video circulating on social media depicted a disturbing scene as players were seen throwing punches and kicks on the pitch during the match.
The brawl involved Akademi MZ and FCKL Eagles in the Suparimau League, which is part of FAM’s grassroots under-16 group competition, at the New Camp pitch in Damansara on November 5.
The Suparimau League, which has more than 14,000 young footballers across 11 districts in Malaysia, has served as a platform for aspiring athletes since its inception in January 2022.
The issue has garnered attention beyond the football community, with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh expressing dismay and urging all national sports associations to prioritise adherence to the Safe Sport Code before organising any sports competitions.
The Safe Sport Code is a comprehensive set of guidelines developed by the Youth and Sports Ministry and launched on March 15.
The code aims to foster a secure sporting environment and outlines clear protocols to address disruptions and abuse in sports. – November 11, 2023