KUALA LUMPUR – Terengganu FC have urged the Malaysian Football League (MFL) to engage with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to address defamatory allegations against the club’s star winger, Safawi Rasid.
The club’s response follows the circulation of false reports by UK-based portal Sport.com (sportep.co.uk), which falsely claimed that Safawi had died and accused him of using performance-enhancing drugs.
The portal also alleged that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had banned the 27-year-old from all football-related activities following a supposed positive doping test.
A Terengganu FC official, who spoke to Scoop on condition of anonymity, condemned the baseless accusations and urged authorities to act against media platforms spreading misinformation that could harm athletes’ mental well-being.
“It’s distressing to see Safawi targeted in this way, and we strongly condemn the portal’s reckless actions, seemingly aimed at boosting traffic through sensationalism. Our legal department has advised Safawi to file a police report, and we are also preparing legal action.
“These defamatory claims don’t just damage a player’s reputation—they threaten the integrity of Malaysian football. As a club, we urge the MFL, as the governing body, to engage with MCMC to investigate and, if necessary, take action against such platforms. We will be sending a formal letter to the MFL soon.
“We trust MCMC to intervene and, if necessary, ban these harmful websites to prevent further damage and protect footballers from baseless attacks,” said the official.
MFL board member and sports analyst Christopher Raj echoed these concerns, criticising the rise of clickbait journalism and its impact on athletes.
“When ethical journalism deteriorates and clickbait sites publish anything for views, athletes’ reputations suffer. The worst part is that these outlets don’t consider the consequences—Safawi has a family, and such false reports put not only his career but also his commercial obligations at risk.
“This isn’t the first time he has been targeted, and it’s unacceptable. How long must athletes endure these attacks on their character and livelihoods? With social media amplifying unchecked content, it’s only a matter of time before such misinformation harms officials and others in sport as well,” Christopher told Scoop.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustafa urged football fans to verify news before sharing it, warning against the spread of misinformation.
“In today’s digital age, it seems that many people share viral content without fact-checking, often ignoring the legal and ethical consequences.
“This mindset needs to change. Fake news thrives because audiences uncritically support it. These portals operate unchecked, fuelling a cycle of falsehoods that damage reputations and create unnecessary controversy.
“The government must take a firmer stance to hold those spreading fake news accountable. Authorities need to enforce laws that protect athletes from these damaging practices,” said Sadek, a senior sports science lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara.
Checks by Scoop revealed that the article falsely reporting Safawi’s death has been removed, but the piece accusing him of doping remains online.
Safawi, who has earned 64 caps for Harimau Malaya, has scored nine goals in 17 appearances for Terengganu across all competitions this season. – February 10, 2025