FIFA investigates pre-World Cup match between Singapore vs Malaysia

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FAM clueless


National body in the dark over Fifa's investigation of pre-World Cup match

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

The Malaysia-Singapore second round return-leg pre-World Cup match in Kuala Lumpur has caught the attention of Fifa.

Singapore managed to hold Malaysia to a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil en route to earning a 6-4 aggregate win to advance to the next round.

The national Tigers not only had to endure a tongue-lashing from some of their harshest critics but the FA of Malaysia (FAM) could be hauled up by Fifa as they seem to have breached several articles embedded in the Fifa Disciplinary Code.

In an email sent to me yesterday, Fifa's Media Office said: "We can now confirm disciplinary proceedings were opened for crowd disturbance against FAM in relation to this match.

"This case will be submitted to the disciplinary committee which will most likely examine it at their next meeting on Sept 13."

This came about after I questioned the manner in which the match was organised, in the article "Walking a Tightrope", published on Aug 8.

FAM were found to have breached Article 7 (evacuation routes), Article 8 (spectator areas), Article 18 (entry to the stadium, sale of tickets) and Article 19 (security checks) of the Code.

A fan, Ahmad Jazimin Jalaluddin, was blinded in his right eye after being struck by fragments of a firecracker during the match.

The stadium was packed to the brim with spectators having to stand. Some even invaded the Press box to watch the game.

However, FAM vice-president Datuk Hamidin Amin was unaware over the whole episode.

"I was with the general secretary (Datuk Azzudin Ahmad) on Monday and nothing was mentioned. I'm not aware of Fifa looking into the match until you brought it up."

Perhaps Hamidin has a bigger battle to worry about. Observers continue to question his role as FAM's competitions committee chairman and Selangor's caretaker team manager — stressing it is a conflict of interest.

Even the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) disciplinary committee discussed the match during a meeting on Aug 15.

Committee chairman Lim Kia Tong was quoted in the AFC website saying: "The committee is of the unwavering view such irresponsible and dangerous acts cannot be allowed to continue and will not be tolerated any longer."

The website also stated the committee issued "an unequivocal warning that the member association or club concerned would be held fully responsible for any laxity in security which could be punished with the imposition of financial sanctions up to US$1m (RM2.9m) or playing matches without spectators until AFC are satisfied the problem will be, or is, eradicated."

The same committee slapped Indonesia's Sriwijaya with a US$25,000 fine after their fans threw water bottles and lit a fire torch, among others, in the AFC Cup match against Hong Kong's TSW Pegasus on May 11.

AFC also handed Iraq club Duhok a US$13,000 penalty after spectators threw bottles, fireworks and invaded the pitch during another AFC Cup match against Kuwait's Al Nasr on May 3.

All eyes will now be on FAM, with the Malaysia Cup having started yesterday.

With this in mind, I'm sure FAM will ensure fans get to watch an incident-free tournament leading to the final — hopefully.