Enough is enough
PKNS take action on alleged racial abuse of Sherman
PETALING
JAYA: PKNS have lodged an official complaint over an alleged racial abuse on their player during a Super League match.
The Red Ants’ manager Mahfizul Rusydin Abdul Rashid said they submitted a complaint letter to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on Wednesday after conducting their own investigation.
Mahfizul said their Liberian international Kpah Sherman was allegedly called ‘b**i and f**k you monkey’, by a Kuala Lumpur defender during his team’s 1-2 loss at the Cheras Football Stadium on May 14.
PKNS had earlier lodged a complaint over the poor performance of the match referee Suhaizi Shukri in the same match.
“Our player informed the referee about it during the match. We’re in the midst of collecting the evidence. We hope to get footage of the incident,” said Mahfizul.
“Defenders are known to unsettle strikers by using verbal abuses but racial slurs and derogatory words are unacceptable.”
“PKNS represent a multi-racial team and we abhor abuses like this. We hope the FAM will take a firm decision on this matter.”
The 27-year-old Sherman said he had been abused before and thought it would never happen in a multiracial country like Malaysia.
“I just looked at his face when he said those words. I was livid.
It’s appalling to see a fellow professional using such slurs,” said Sherman.
“I immediately reported it to our assistant head coach Adam Abdullah. Adam spoke to the match referee who immediately came and asked me about it.
“The official told me that he would speak to the match commissioner.
“I also saw him talking to the player who uttered those words.
“After the match, the player wanted to shake my hand but I refused. You expect me to forgive him after calling me a monkey?”
Other players, especially foreigners, have also complained about racial abuse in recent times after they were subjected to derogatory remarks and taunts by fans and even officials in the M-League.
Sherman said it would be tough to eradicate racism.
“I know the authorities have pledged to end racial abuse and are working hard. It’s not going to be easy unless everyone cooperates,” said Sherman.