‘NOT THIS WAY’
Vietnam, Laos object to Malaysia picking their own Sea Games group
VIETNAM and Laos have objected to the mechanism for the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games football draw which they claim gives hosts Malaysia an unfair advantage.
In the draw which will be conducted by the Olympic Council of Malaysia ( OCM) and the Malaysian Sea Games Organising Committee (Masoc) in Kuala Lumpur on July 8, the Malaysian men’s football team have the option of picking the group they want to play in.
As hosts, Malaysia will be drawn last along with defending champions Thailand, thus giving coach Ong Kim Swee the option of playing in a five-team group or one which has six teams.
Asean Football Federation general secretary Datuk Seri Azzuddin Ahmad said Vietnam’s objection came in last week while Laos followed suit on Wednesday.
“They are disputing the procedure set out by OCM in conducting the draw which they claim does not follow international norms,” said Azzuddin in Shah Alam yesterday.
“The Sea Games draw usually favours the host in that they are drawn last along with the defending champions, in this case Thailand, for the group stage.
“Vietnam and Laos object to Malaysia being allowed to pick the group in which the host will play. I expect more countries will object to the draw so there is a possibility that there may be a change to the way the draw will be done.”
FA of Malaysia general secretary Datuk Hamidin Amin said he will meet with OCM and Masoc officials to review the football and futsal draw mechanism on Monday.
“The host reserves the right to create the mechanism for the draw but since Vietnam and Laos have objected, I will meet with OCM and Masoc to discuss this matter,” said Hamidin when met at his Hari Raya open house celebration in Shah Alam yesterday.
“As with Singapore two years ago, the host and the defending champions will be drawn into separate groups. If all agree at the meeting on Monday, the draw will be nearly the same as done by Singapore.”
The only question appears to be whether Malaysia and Thailand should be drawn at the start or at the end of the process.
For the July 8 draw, Myanmar and Vietnam, silver and bronze medallists in 2015 respectively, are to be separated, along with Indonesia and Singapore.
Cambodia and Laos are also to be kept apart with the Philippines, Brunei and Timor Leste to be drawn into the remaining vacant spots.
“There is a suggestion that the draw involving these teams be done first and then Malaysia are to choose which group they want to play in with Thailand going into the opposite group,” said Hamidin.
“But if this suggestion is rejected, then we will copy the 2015 Sea Games mechanism where Malaysia and Thailand will be drawn first into their respective groups.
Hamidin added that he does not expect similar issues with the women’s football and the men’s and women’s futsal competitions which would likely be a single round-robin contest.