Harimau Malaya Supporters Explain Why Flares Were Thrown During World Cup Qualifier Game
The act is reminiscent of an encounter when during a match of Malaysia and the Philippines last year, fans set off fireworks, flares and smoke bombs after 30 minutes of the first half in protest against the leadership of FAM.
Cover image via NST Online FacebookWorldwide ban awaits FAM if government continues to interfere
Former Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general, Datuk Peter Velappan
Image via Free Malaysia Today
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has disregarded the possible threat and went on to instruct Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman to send a show-cause letter to FAM on Wednesday (9 September)
Khairy asserted that both FAM and the fans share the same responsibility for the incident that "has strained diplomatic ties"
9 SEPT: You should have already heard about the rowdy football fans who threw flares during the World Cup qualifying match between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia yesterday night, 8 September
Image via NST Online Facebook
Earlier this week, Ultras Malaya, a supporters group, has urged fans to gather at the Shah Alam stadium, to voice their anger at the performances of the national team due and protest against Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)
Ultras Malaya has also posted a status on 7 September that listed 31 reasons why 'FAM is sleeping'. Yesterday, Harimau Malaya, a Malaysian football community, also reposted the status on its Facebook page that has more than 1 million fans. Read on to know more:
1. Overall worsening performance for the national team since 1980
**Under the administration of the current President and his predecessors:**
• Malaysia has never qualified for Olympics. **The last time Malaysia qualified for Olympics was 35 years ago.**
• Malaysia has never qualified for AFC Asian Cup by merit. **The last time Malaysia qualified for AFC Asian Cup by merit was 35 years ago.**
• Malaysia has only qualified for the finals in AFC Asian Cup once, in 2007. That is also only because Malaysia was the host.
**Under the administration of the current President:
**• Malaysia's ranking has plummeted to **34th in Asia**. When FIFA first introduced the world rankings 21 years ago in 1993), Malaysia **was ranked 14th** in Asia.
• Malaysia's ranking plummeted to **169th in the world**, the worst in the nation's football history. In 1993, Malaysia was ranked **77th in the world**
• Malaysia's ranking is after Bhutan, a country that had once been the in the lowest of the lowest for FIFA rankings.
• Malaysia's ranking is below Indonesia, a country that is being suspended by FIFA and is not allowed to participate in any competitive games.
• Malaysia suffered the **worst defeat in the history of football**, that is 10-0 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• FAM has 'auctioned the honour' of the country to organizers by exhibiting matches with dubious results.
• During AFC Asian Cup 2007, Malaysia only managed to score **1 goal although the team conceded 12 times**, and finished bottom of the group.
• In 2012, during AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Myanmar defeated Malaysia by reducing older players but FAM general secretary just said, "I was not informed."
• Now, for the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, Malaysia only managed to **score 1 goal but conceded 17 times**, and subsequently fell to the bottom of the group, after Timor-Leste.
• Malaysia's first opponent in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, namely Timor-Leste, had been 46 places below Malaysia in the FIFA rankings. Now, Timor-Leste has gone up 6 ranks above Malaysia.
• **Malaysian football league is categorized as grade 'D'** although it has undergone a transition period of 25 years from the amateur league to semi-pro league in 1989, and then to the professional league in 1993.
2. Scandals surrounding FAM over the years
• Back in 2009, FAM had arbitrarily allowed the country's image to be tarnished by the gambling syndicate, 'Asiagate' when they **permitted a friendly match with Monomotapa United FC that disguised as Zimbabwe's national team.**
• FAM allowed the hosting of Manchester United Asian Tour 2007 while the AFC Asian Cup was underway, until it invited criticisms from FIFA.
• On February 2013, former Secretary-General FAM had easily accepted the letter of explanation from technical director of Football Queensland concerning the cancellation of a friendly match of Harimau Muda 'A' eventhough the match was supposed to take place with Brisbane Roar club. This match has never been announced by Brisbane Roar club.
• Harimau Muda's tour to Slovakia **was claimed to be organised with the help of Miroslav Bozik, an individual that was wanted by Interpol for corruption in 1995.** Harimau Muda didn't lose to Slovika but it was defeated by Laos and Myanmar before the team was thrashed with a 5-0 win to Thailand
• Three parties had bid for the rights to broadcast the league: TM-Media Prima, Astro-Fox Sports and Zenith. However, FAM has **left the decision to be made by MP & Silva.**
• In the last month, FAM was in talks to organize *Liga Bolasepak Rakyat* with **individuals who had been detained in the investigation of MACC for 1MDB.**
• Government payment vouchers in 2011 show that **government funds as much as RM6,091,200 were distributed to the foundation by FAM's President** for *Lawatan Pasukan Bola Sepak British Premier League Club*.
A police officer extinguishes a flare on the pitch thrown by angry fans
Image via Reuters/The Malay Mail Online
3. Lack of accountability from FAM
• Only the agent of matches (not the player's agent) registered with FIFA can lead a team to play in Malaysia. However, FAM's general secretary **refused to reveal the identity of the agent for the Barcelona game in 2013.**
• The FAM president was the **President of Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) and FIFA Exco simultaneously.**
• FAM's treasurer **holds position in Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) and** ***Majlis Olimpik Malaysia*** (MOM).
• FAM has failed to implement the privatisation of the league in 2015. This **resulted in the loss of millions of ringgit to the state's FA, clubs and stakeholders.**
• As a body registered under the Sports Development Act, **FAM has never presented its financial statements to the people of Malaysia.**
• Records show that the coach responsible for the worst defeat in the nation's history was **receiving one of the biggest salary in history, which is RM712,700 per annum.**
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah
Image via Free Malaysia Today
4. Lack of good management by FAM
• In order to administer the Malaysian football league, including a grade 'D' league, the number of staffs FAM has is **double to Japan Football Association.**
• FAM felt the need to rotate the number of teams in a grade of "D" league from 14 teams to 12, and back to 14 teams again.
• FAM's agreement with Singapore has expired, but FAM still feels the need to continue it with the participation of Harimau Muda directly into the Super League.
• FAM **increased the number of match days in the month of Ramadan**, including a 3-days match in a short period of 7 days, to allow matches against clubs outside. All football games in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Brunei, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, UAE, including Bosnia were stopped before or on the month of Ramadan, with the exception of countries such as Iraq and Syria that had to shift the schedule as a result of war.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President speaking to a group of players
Image via The Borneo Post
FAM has condemned the fans' irresponsible action and described it as "most embarrassing" thing in the history of Malaysian football
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has expressed his disappointment over the 'shameful incident'
Meanwhile, police has nabbed 11 individuals over the incident
Image via NST Online Twitter
