KUALA LUMPUR — Vendors at Bukit Jalil National Stadium have reported a 50% drop in profits today due to a significant boycott of this year’s Merdeka Tournament by fans.
The drop in sales comes in the wake of Ultras Malaya, the country’s largest supporters’ group, leading a boycott to demand the resignation of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
This protest was further fueled by the sudden resignation of former national head coach Kim Pan-gon and other issues within FAM.
As of today, FAM has sold approximately 3,000 tickets for the match between Malaysia and the Philippines.
In contrast, only 460 fans attended the opening match of the tournament between Lebanon and Tajikistan.
Speaking to Scoop, 49-year-old vendor Zaidi Ishak, who has been selling jerseys for over two decades, expressed his frustration with the situation.
“I’ve been in this business for more than 20 years, and this is the first time I’ve seen such a severe boycott.
“It has drastically impacted my sales, resulting in a 50% loss of my usual revenue. I typically earn around RM10,000 on match days.”
Zaidi explained the financial strain of maintaining his business.
“It’s not cheap for us to rent a site to do business at the stadium. I have to pay RM800 per day, including all the expenses for my staff.
“I knew that the boycott was going to happen today, but I still chose to continue my business because this is my livelihood. I’ve not only been selling jerseys in Bukit Jalil but also around all the stadiums in the country.
“I didn’t expect the boycott to be so severe. The Ultras boycotting the game was not a good move. It shows that they are not patriotic enough. No matter how bad things are with the team, they should be supporting them at all costs.
“Even FIFA has posted on their platforms, asking fans to come and support this year’s tournament. This is a disgrace for us in the eyes of the world,” said Zaidi.
Similarly, Zali Kamaruzaman, another vendor, has struggled with low sales.
“Usually, I make a profit during Harimau Malaya matches due to the high number of fans, but today has been different.
“I started my business at 11am, but I haven’t made a single sale. I normally sell jerseys for about RM40 each, but even lowering the price to RM30 hasn’t helped. If the boycott continues on Sunday.
“I think there’s no point in running my business, but I hope we will reach the final, and the fans will come,” said Zali.
Zafri Kamal, a dedicated Harimau Malaya fan, shared his continued support despite the off-field issues.
“I’m here because of my love for the sport and the team. We are still in the month of Merdeka, and it’s our duty to support the national team.
“I believe the FAM management should be run by younger individuals to restore trust. With the recent RM15 million allocation from the prime minister, they must take more responsibility in improving the sport,” said Zafri.
Last year, the National Stadium hosted around 46,000 fans for Malaysia’s 4-2 victory over India in the opening match.
The final, where Tajikistan defeated Harimau Malaya 2-0, drew about 37,000 spectators. — September 4, 2024