KUALA LUMPUR — Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) Arif Aiman Hanapi and Perak’s Tommy Mawat Bada are set to face the music from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) following a fight that broke out during the Super League match between both teams yesterday.
FAM deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundaram, in a statement, said that the national body is taking the altercation between Arif and Tommy seriously.
The incident occurred in the 83rd minute of the game at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri.
Footage of the altercation went viral, showing both players squaring off after a challenge.
Despite efforts by teammates to separate them, the shoving escalated where Tommy was holding Arif by the throat and the JDT player punched Tommy in the face.
Eventually, referee Razlan Joffri Ali intervened to break up the scuffle.
Sivasundaram, who also chairs the FAM referee committee, said that both players could still face further punishment despite receiving yellow cards in the match.
“We will wait for the full report from the match commissioner and referee assessor before taking any further action,” he said.
“The FAM referee performance evaluation committee will also review the full video recording of the incident to determine if additional measures are warranted.
“While it is true both players were shown a yellow card immediately after the incident, further action may still be taken if deemed necessary,” he said.
Sivasundaram also emphasised that footballers must control their emotions on the pitch, as any misconduct could ultimately lead to serious consequences.
Earlier, the referee, Razlan, faced criticism for not sending off Arif, sparking a heated debate among fans, particularly on social media.
A majority of supporters believed the national winger should have received a red card, as striking an opponent is considered violent conduct under International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules and warrants a red card.
The incident also caught the attention of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the owner of JDT.
He commented that both players should have been sent off for their actions.
Despite the controversy, JDT went on to secure a decisive 5-0 victory in a match that was twice delayed due to weather conditions, with Perak choosing to play in Iskandar Puteri. — November 11, 2024