KUALA LUMPUR – It is disappointing that the Malaysian Football League (MFL) rejected Selangor FC’s request to postpone Friday’s Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), said Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
He also fully supports Selangor FC withdrawing from the match, as the priority is the lives and safety of the players, not to win the match.
He added that the Red Giants are ready to face any action following the decision not to participate.
“As the patron of Selangor FC, it is right for the team to not participate in the match following several life-threatening incidents involving players and officials recently.
“It is not only a security issue, but also the morale of the team, which has been affected by the acid attack on winger Faisal Halim. This should also be taken into account,” according to a statement issued by his office.
Sultan Sharafuddin hopes that everyone understands the seriousness of the incidents, which is different from previous cases, as well as their taking place close to the date of the match.
He also denounced any form of sports violence.
The Red Giants management announced last night that Selangor FC would withdraw from the 2024 Charity Shield match, originally slated for this Friday at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor.
This decision comes after the MFL 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.
The club 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