With the hunt for the perpetrators who assaulted Malaysian footballers recently, Selangor Football Club has made a gutsy decision. They’re withdrawing from the 2024 Charity Shield match following the rampant attacks on footballers from different FCs.
The match is scheduled for tomorrow (May 10) but due to the threats and attacks posed toward several footballers in just 72 hours, the football club called it quits.
“The club reluctantly decided NOT TO PARTICIPATE in the 2024 Charity Cup match.”
With the criminals still running freely, the FC has only 1 priority at the time being – ensuring the safety of the team members.
“We take all forms of threats and violence seriously. We will not compromise on matters related to the safety of the team.”
Sultan Selangor AGREES, but not JDT
In an official statement by Sultan Selangor this morning (May 9), Sultan Selangor said he agreed with Selangor FC’s decision to withdraw from the match.
“The priority at this time is the life and safety of the players, not to win the match,” Sultan Selangor said in the statement that was shared on Royal Selangor Office’s FB page.
Sultan Selangor also highlighted the moral condition of the team which is still affected after the recent assaults on the footballers.
Johor Southern Tigers (JDT), on the other hand, is NOT ON BOARD with Selangor FC’s withdrawal from the match. In a statement posted on X @OfficialJohor last night (April 8), JDT’s FC CEO, Alistair Edwards said Johor FC had been attacked in hostile environments in different Malaysian states, but that did not deter their will.
“We still travelled and played those matches under increased police presence. Selangor have never been attacked at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. Team & fans had police escorts most of the time.”
Alistair also assured the public that security for the match has been doubled for the safety of the team, players, and fans. He also hopes that Selangor FC will reconsider their decision.
The manpower of police presence has been increased to 1,500 personnel.
Additionally, PDRM is currently investigating if the recent assaults are linked to the poison pen letter that was sent to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) last month.
The letter accused FAM of fraud, abuse of power, discrepancies in salaries, and issues with Harimau Malaya.
“We have identified the modus operandi but not the motive yet,” PDRM said in a statement.
We hope the perpetrators and the mastermind behind these attacks will be brought to the face of justice sooner rather than later.
