By Nazli Ibrahim
SHAH ALAM, Dec 11 — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj has expressed concern about keeping footballers safe from hooliganism or fans too obsessed with sports teams.
The ruler, who is also a patron of the Selangor Football Association, considers the violence extreme as it involves the lives of athletes.
His Royal Highness expressed concern over recent violence, including the incident where Selangor FC player Faisal Halim, 26, was attacked with acid and suffered fourth-degree burns.
The attack on the 2023 Asian Cup Best Scorer at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya on May 5 was among a series of attacks on players over a short period.
Sultan Sharafuddin said the fact that the case is yet unresolved is upsetting, as the incident was clear cut.
“With social media and modern technology, no one can hide anything. I followed the incident during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting and hope this case is resolved,” the ruler said on December 5.
His Royal Highness was also angered when Selangor FC, which was absent from the Charity Shield with the ruler’s permission, received excessive punishment.
Sultan Sharafuddin suggested delaying the match, which was less than a week after the acid attack, as the players were traumatised and in fear.
On June 25, Selangor FC received four penalties — paying the host compensation, getting a three-point deduction in the Super League, paying an RM100,000 fine, and playing the match against Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) without spectators.
The decision, which fans called unfair, was revised by the Malaysian Football League board of directors two days later after the ruler’s reprimand.
“Sports, which is supposed to be a platform for unity among races, has been marred by violence,” said Sultan Sharafuddin, who has been involved in the football arena since 1968.
Six days before the Super League match against JDT, His Royal Highness reminded everyone, including Selangor FC supporters, to avoid disputes on or off the field that could lead to violence.
“I want every player and supporter to be smart and rational in controlling their emotions so they are not provoked into negative reactions that can be destructive.
“In football, win or lose is part of the game, but what’s more important is that all relevant parties celebrate the winning party and learn from every loss,” read a statement from the Selangor Royal Office on October 21.
The ruler’s love for the game has been long reflected through the Sultan of Selangor Cup, which Sultan Sharafuddin launched in 2001, the year His Royal Highness ascended the throne.
Though Singapore has been Selangor FC’s main enemy for decades, the tight match was harmonious.
Both teams have met 22 times during the Malaysia Cup final, before Singapore withdrew from the Malaysian League in 1994, when the tournament was called Malayan El Clàsico.
The Selangor Selection won nine times while the Singapore Selection won seven times. Both teams were named joint champions in 2004, while the 2015 match was cancelled due to haze.
In this year’s edition, the Selangor Selection won by defeating the Singapore Selection 2-1 on August 17 at Stadium Merdeka.
“Those who are aware of history will understand the rationale behind this match and celebrate the Sultan of Selangor Cup as a prestigious event that boosts friendly ties in sports,” an August 20 statement from the royal office said after certain parties questioned why the match was being held.
