KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is in discussions with Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) to enhance security measures for the opening Merdeka Cup fixture between Malaysia and India.
FAM secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman, said that the footballing body has taken this decisive step in response to ongoing tensions on social media, where Malaysian football fans have been seen posting provocative content related to the Indian government’s strong diplomatic ties with Israel.
“The sentiments among Malaysian football fans are escalating due to the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, and we at FAM are aware of it.
“These stringent security measures are necessary to ensure that no conflicts arise during the game due to the fan’s actions from both sides.
“Our primary focus is to ensure that everyone can watch the match and return home peacefully.
“We previously encountered a hostile situation like this when we played against Indonesia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, and we hope such issues do not recur.
“We will hold a committee meeting tomorrow, and we are well-prepared this time with PSM’s assistance to handle such situations if they happen to arise again,” Azman said.
Azman also urged Malaysian football fans not to mix politics with sports and hopes that fans will uphold Malaysia’s image as a tolerant nation.
“We should not blame the Indian players for their government’s close ties with Israel.
“Football is football, and we should not intertwine international politics with the beautiful game.
“We are a tolerant country, and I hope our fans will respect our opponents on the field regardless of their nationality – and promote unity and sportsmanship in the spirit of the sport,” Azman said.
Recently, FIFA stripped Indonesia of its hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup as a punishment for a riot caused by Indonesian fans during a local league match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java.
The riot resulted in more than 120 people killed and over 300 injured, which FIFA declared as one of the world’s worst stadium disasters.
Harimau Malaya will kick-start its campaign on October 13 against the world’s 102nd-ranked India.
The 42nd edition of the Merdeka Tournament is set to be a proving ground for Kim Pan-gon’s Harimau Malaya, who will compete in the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar next year. – October 10, 2023