Sultan slams MFL’s penalty on S’gor FC for skipping Charity Shield match

Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said the Malaysian Football League’s decision was irresponsible and not compassionate. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has expressed “deep” disappointment over the Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) decision to impose a RM100,000 fine and deduct three points from the state club after it withdrew from last month’s Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).

“I am extremely angered by this latest MFL decision, which I consider irresponsible, made without compassion, inhumane, and lacking in concern for the injustices that occurred,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Sultan Sharafuddin said the penalties imposed on Selangor FC were “excessive and unreasonable”, given that the victory had already been awarded to the opposing team.

“I have been involved in the local football arena since 1968, when the Football Association of Selangor (FAS) was led by Harun Idris, until I retired in 1990, and during that time, I have never witnessed a situation like this,” he said.

“The sport, which should be a platform for unity among various races and people, has now been tainted with violence.”

He also said he was shocked that Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Hamidin Amin did not advocate for Selangor FC, despite his experience and connection to Selangor football.

Hamidin served as FAS secretary-general from 1995 to 2013 and was given a Datukship by Sultan Sharafuddin.

Yesterday, Selangor FC said it would appeal MFL’s decision, adding that it only withdrew from the game with JDT after its request for a postponement was turned down.

The club reiterated that it had requested for the match to be postponed following the “heinous” acid attack on its forward Faisal Halim on May 5 and several “incidents involving other professional football players”.

In the statement, the Selangor ruler lambasted MFL and FAM, saying the two bodies did not show a serious response to violence and injustice against players and failed to show sympathy and compassion.

“Remember, what is happening will not only tarnish the credibility of football in this country but can also ‘kill’ the spirit and future direction of the Selangor FC team,” he said.

Sultan Sharafuddin, who is the patron of FAS, said he would not hesitate to pull the Selangor FC team out of the Super League if he was part of the FAS and the team leadership.

“I would like to once again point out that football is a sport beloved by, and uniting, Malaysians based on a high spirit of sportsmanship.

“These extreme actions by the MFL do not reflect this spirit and will only damage the reputation of local football and public support for the sport we love.

“I would like to remind the MFL to make decisions carefully.”