KUALA LUMPUR – Selangor FC should reconsider their decision to withdraw from Friday’s Charity Shield match as the police have assured the safety of the teams, players and fans, said Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) chief executive officer Alistair Edwards.
He added that the Red Giants “have never been attacked at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium” and that “their team and fans were escorted by police into the stadium and to their buses in previous matches”.
“We vehemently condemn the incident involving Faisal Halim and the alleged threats received by some members at Selangor FC, but we hope Selangor FC can reconsider their decision to withdraw from the match as this could set a precedent of teams pulling out because they feel unsafe, and that too despite assurances from the Royal Malaysian Police.
“We have been attacked in hostile environments in Pahang, Perak and Kelantan in the past, but we still travelled and played those matches under increased police presence,” he said in a statement issued just after midnight.
“While the recent incidents involving Akhyar Rashid, Faisal Halim and Safiq Rahim are concerning, we must place our trust in authorities to not only investigate the cases but also to protect our safety and ensure the running of the 2024-25 football season.”
The police have assured that the safety of the teams, players and fans will be the utmost priority and personnel have been tripled to 1,500.
Last night, Selangor FC announced its withdrawal from the Charity Shield match, originally slated for Friday at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor.
This decision comes after the Malaysian Football League confirmed that the match between Selangor FC and JDT would proceed as scheduled after rejecting a request made by the club to delay the match to another date.
Selangor FC also expressed deep concern over the safety of its team members in light of the escalating violence.
The recent assaults on three national footballers, including Terengganu FC’s Akhyar Rashid and Selangor’s Faisal Halim, along with an attempted break-in involving JDT’s Safiq Rahim’s car, have heightened security apprehensions within the Malaysian football community. – May 9, 2024