KUALA LUMPUR – A referee officiating a futsal match at a sports centre in Petaling Jaya became the victim of assault after being attacked by a player.
The incident unfolded when the referee issued a red card to the goalkeeper of Fussa Futsal Club for a foul against Salai FC’s centre-forward during their recent KL Futsal League outing.
What happened next shocked everyone when a player from Fussa Futsal Club, believed to be on the sideline, charged in and attacked the referee, using his knee to strike the back of the referee’s body in a Muay Thai style.
The incident went viral on Thursday after a woman, believed to be the referee’s wife, shared a video of the incident on her Facebook page under the name Nnies Adniza.
The wife of the assaulted referee could not contain her disappointment and heartbreak as she vented about the incident, saying, “I am appalled and devastated by what my husband had to go through.”
“He was simply doing his job, ensuring fair play on the field, and he ended up being violently assaulted.
“What right does the player have to attack people who earn a living? It is unacceptable and needs to be condemned.”
Nnies Adniza also informed readers in the comments section that a report about the incident had been lodged with the authorities, and they were now awaiting further action.
However, the player has since apologised to the referee in a text message, which has also gone viral.
Following the viral incident, Fussa Futsal Club issued an apology for the behaviour of one of their players and confirmed that appropriate action had been taken.
However, the club’s apology has drawn criticism and a negative response from futsal enthusiasts on social media. – September 2, 2023