KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has firmly denied the authenticity of a viral photo that circulated on social media yesterday, purportedly depicting the current state of the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
The image, allegedly taken with a drone camera, appears to show a distressed grass pitch with visible patches and uneven areas.
The circulation of this photo has sparked concerns among local football enthusiasts, particularly with the national football team scheduled to clash against Oman this Tuesday in a crucial Group D qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup/2027 AFC Asian Cup.
“That photo is outdated and does not reflect the current condition of the stadium. We must wait until match day,” said Hannah during a media briefing on the collaboration between the ministry and the Malaysia Competition Commission today.
Betul ke keadaan terkini? pic.twitter.com/61xkTJ6xRS
— Pemain Ke-12 (@pemain_ke_12) March 21, 2024
Malaysia suffered their first defeat in the World Cup qualification campaign earlier this morning, losing 0-2 to Oman at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Stadium in Muscat.
This setback has dropped Malaysia to third place in Group D, level on six points with Oman and Kyrgyzstan, while Chinese Taipei remains at the bottom of the table with no points.
As such, Kim Pan-gon’s squad is hoping that the national stadium pitch will be in optimal condition to facilitate their rebound from their defeat and improve their standing in Group D. – March 22, 2024