Perak supporters assault Sarawak fans after Malaysia Cup match

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KUCHING: Five Sarawak supporters from the group ‘GB13’ were allegedly assaulted outside the compound of Stadium Perak on Wednesday night, according to fan accounts and video on social media.

Credit Photo: GB13 Fan, screenshot from Facebook

Credit Photo: GB13 Fan, screenshot from Facebook

The attack and name-calling which happened after a Malaysia Cup match which Sarawak lost 2-0, was believed to have been sparked by one of the influential supporter groups of Perak FA (PAFA) at the stadium parking lot when the Sarawak visitors were about to leave.

According to one of the victims, Hifadhi Fatha Sarbini, 22, a Sarawakian working in Ampang, they were about to leave the stadium peacefully when one of the alleged attackers was seen shouting profanities and racial abuse at them in the parking lot.

“I saw him from a distance and was approached by one of the home supporters explaining the situation when seconds later, another home (Perak) supporter ran towards me and threw punches to my head and (I was) being kicked at my body,” he said. “They were shouting ‘balik la..ini Ipoh’ (‘Go home, this is Ipoh’), ‘Sarawak tak reti main’ (Sarawak don’t know how to play’ and ‘Melayu dan Iban Sarawak bodoh’ (‘Malays and Ibans of Sarawak are stupid’) at us when they cornered us,” said Hifadhi.

He later urged the police and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to take action against Perak AFA for failing to provide adequate security to the visiting fans.

“I had lodged a police report today and I hope police will conduct their investigation thoroughly,” he said.

Another victim, Charles Steve, 25, said he was assaulted before running away for protection at the parking lot.

“However, another home supporter suddenly came from the back and kicked me at the waist,” said Charles who added that another Sarawakian suffered a bleeding nose following the attack.

“It disappoints me to have this experience in Perak as this was my first ever trip to Ipoh,” he added.

“What have we done wrong? Have we treated outside supporters badly before? Is this what FAM wants to happen in the Malaysian league? Something must be done to ensure these people who acted as ‘samseng kampung’ (‘village gangsters’) do not attack others too,” he added.

Two videos recorded by a witness went viral in the social media where the first, a 15-second video shows a guy dressed in black t-shirt seen punching one of the victims, while another 1-minute video shows the homesters shouting at Sarawakians “to go back”.

The racial slur against Sarawak also happened on the pitch as Sarawak import player Junior Eldstal in his Twitter account yesterday hinted of racist remarks thrown at another Sarawakian player during the match.

“Still very disgusted and disappointed to hear racist remarks made towards my team mate #SayNoToRacism” he tweeted.

Eldstal however did not name the player who made the remark.