KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin wants the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to speed up investigations into the alleged incident at the Larkin Stadium during an FA Cup match between T-Team and Johor Darul Takzim (JDT).
Khairy said the move by a T-Team player and assistant coach to swear upon the Al-Quran in front of Terengganu Menteri
Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said means the issue is very serious.
“Something has happened, I do not know what happened or who was involved but when a player and assistant coach decide to swear upon the Al-Quran, it cannot be taken lightly. It is a serious matter.
“I will contact Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin (FAM secretary-general) to inform him that this is a very serious issue and cannot be taken lightly or overlooked. If indeed something happened at the Larkin Stadium, the FAM must charge those involved.
“The culprit must be punished and there should be no bias, fear or favour.
“I am only the Youth and Sports Minister and cannot mete out any punishment.
“If the FAM fails to take any action, its credibility will be at stake,” he said after opening a seminar titled ‘Sports Science Governed Sports Leadership Empowerment Series’ at National Sports Institute’s (ISN) Dewan Perdana, here, yesterday.
Khairy also urged the FAM to tighten security aspects at stadiums, especially during match days to avoid crowd trouble.
“Football is a family sport because many parents bring along their children to watch football matches. So, it will be dangerous if fans react aggressively. We must enhance our cooperation with the police to improve security,” he said.
Last Friday, fans from Pahang and JDT were reported to have clashed outside the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan after a Super League match which Pahang and JDT, resulting in a number of fans injured.
The match was won by Pahang (3-2).
On Feb 1, a commotion had allegedly taken place in the tunnel of the Larkin Stadium when the players were heading to the dressing room at half-time in the second leg FA Cup match between JDT and T-team.
T-Team’s Brazilian import Evaldo Rodrigues and fitness coach Stefano Impagiazzo claimed they were assaulted by a high ranking JDT official when heading to the dressing room.
The match was later abandoned when T-Team refused to resume the match.
The incident also resulted in the Football of Malaysia (FAM) awarding a 3-0 win to JDT because T-Team refused to continue the match, claiming that their safety was stake.
Both teams have since lodged police reports.
Meanwhile, speaking of the seminar which was jointly organised by ISN and Universiti Putra Malaysia, Khairy said all sports associations must emphasise the use by sports science when preparing their athletes.
“The failure by associations to in cooperate sports science in their administration may indirectly affect the performance of their athletes.
“Sports administration is not a platform for associations to expand their political influence or image but rather to improve the performance of their athletes,” he said. — Bernama