SPORTS in Malaysia are becoming a joke with the recent incidents.
From the Malaysian Football League’s (MFL) decision to punish Selangor FC, to the attire of the national contingent for the Paris Olympics.
First, let’s talk about MFL’s recent decision that not only angered the sultan of Selangor or Selangor football fans, but also neutral fans.
Last month, one of Selangor’s star players, Faisal Halim, was splashed with acid while spending time in a shopping mall with his family. He suffered fourth-degree burns and needed surgery to replace some of his skin.
The attack happened at the lobby of a shopping mall in Klang Valley, days before their Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor.
Traumatised by the event and concerned about other Selangor players and officials’ safety, Selangor requested the MFL to postpone the match.
MFL decided to proceed with the match after Johor police and Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain assured the safety of the players.
In this case, anyone can assure safety, but what will stop an incident like this from happening?
Even though security guards at the shopping mall were hired to ensure the safety of its visitors, Faisal was still attacked in the lobby in broad daylight.
MFL should have called for a meeting with police, as well as the management of Selangor and JDT to discuss the matter.
Was this done? Nobody knows.
Eventually, Selangor forfeited the match and MFL awarded JDT with a 3-0 win and the Charity Shield Cup.
Fast forward to two days ago, MFL imposed sanctions on Selangor FC for forfeiting the match.
It is understood that such an act by a club to forfeit matches should be met with serious punishment, but in Selangor’s case, it is different.
Of course, the club can appeal, but where is the empathy from MFL?
Is it all about business and commercial fairness?
Selangor was initially fined RM100,000 before it was dropped to RM60,000 today for their withdrawal from the Charity Shield match against JDT.
In addition, it was previously decided that the upcoming Super League match between Selangor and JDT will be played without spectators.
The MFL also announced other penalties, including a deduction of three points for Selangor in the 2024-2025 Super League season and compensation for losses incurred by JDT and MFL.
The decisions on the point deduction and spectators’ ban were overturned, but MFL retained the compensation.
Attire fiasco
That was football, and now for the Olympics attire.
People can understand if sports leaders would want to try something new, but shying away from the criticism and passing the buck around does not seem professional in any field.
Changing the attire could have been under the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and its sponsor, but for the Youth and Sports Ministry to shy away after heavy criticism from netizens is disappointing.
Although the attire was approved by the OCM board of directors, doesn’t the ministry have a say?
It does not matter whose fault it is, but where is the team player mindset?
One thing I learnt in life is to never throw anyone under the bus, and always stand side by side to take the praise or even the hit.
Until stakeholders in Malaysian sports operate with unity and empathy, it will always be seen as a joke. – June 27, 2024
T. Vignesh is an associate editor at Scoop