Johor and Terengganu to face the rap for starting brawl in the football tourney

JOHOR and Terengganu football teams are facing sanctions from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) following a brawl in their group match in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).

The hot tempered Group B match which ended with a slim 2-1 win for Terengganu at the UPSI Stadium in Tanjung Malim on Monday, became a free-for-all towards the end of the game.

Referee Mohd Afiq Ahmad Nadzir was forced to flash two red cards each for both teams. Terengganu’s Mohamad Shafawi Mohamad and Mohammad Rahmat Makasuf and Johor’s Mohamad Hariz Kamarudin and Nur Ismail Sukandar were red-carded.

National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said a special technical committee have decided to let FAM decide on the next action.

“I have been informed that Johor have lodged a complaint to the FAM disciplinary committee,” he said.

He said the disciplinary committee have directed the two states to provide explanation for the fracas by today.

“The committee will deliberate on their reports and decide on the next course of action,” he said.

“We regret that such incident took place although such incidents have happened in Sukma before. We hope that players and team officials uphold sportsmanship and control their emotions and don’t end up embarrassing their states and the sport.”

“I want to remind the officials to keep their teams in check and use the right channels to air their grouses. Don’t let emotions cloud their judgement.

“I need to thank the security personnel and the venue management for managing to control the situation from blowing out.”

Meanwhile, Malaysia Football League (MFL) chairman Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim urged the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) referees committee to improve the quality of local referees.

Tunku Ismail felt that the fight between Johor and Terengganu, could have been avoided if the referee had been firm.

The Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner added that the incident was a repeat of the fiery clash between the national Under-23 and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium last month, which Malaysia won 2-0.

“I do not like to see things like this happening.

“This should not be encouraged by either party,” said Tunku Ismail in a reply to a fan on his Twitter account yesterday.

“I also feel that the referee failed to control the game well. Same as the Malaysia Under-23 match against UAE last month where the referee could not control the game.”