FAM in hot soup

PUTRAJAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is facing the prospect of suspension, revocation or be deregistered by the government next month.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that he has instructed Sports Commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman to issue a show-cause letter to FAM and the football governing body is given 14 days to explain the crowd trouble that occurred at Shah Alam Stadium during the Malaysia-Saudi Arabia World Cup qualifying match on Sept 8.
“My original plan was to call FAM in and to discuss the decline of Malaysian football especially after the humiliating 10-0 defeat by UAE last week. But after what happened at Shah Alam Stadium, events have overtaken that,” he said after witnessing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony of sports development programmes between the National Sports Council and five sports associations at the ministry today.
He said FAM may face action under Section 20 clause (1) and (6) of the Sports Development Act 1997 if the Sports Commissioner is not satisfied with the explanation by FAM.
When asked on the possibility of reshuffling the FAM management, he said: “The problem is the Act doesn’t specify that we have the power to reshuffle sports association. The Act says the sports commissioner can only suspend or deregister the association.”
While he acknowledged the possibility of FIFA sanctions if the world football governing body is not happy with government intervention on its member association, Khairy said the government has to do something to rectify the situation.
“This is a question of bringing the sport into disrepute by what happened on Sept 8. It has become an international embarrassment.
"Both sides are at fault – the fans, in particular the Ultras Malaya, and FAM,” he said.
Khairy didn’t mince his words on FAM’s failure to undertake security arrangements and crowd control.
“There have been warnings prior to the Saudi Arabia match that something bad would happen after the UAE result but I don’t see steps from FAM on the security aspect.
FAM is at fault for losing control of their own stadium,” he said.
Khairy also expressed regret with the Ultras Malaya for shaming the country.
“On social media, many people have excused the action by the Ultras Malaya. They said they have no other choice but to vent their frustration.
“Look, no matter how angry you are with FAM, everybody is angry with FAM including myself but you cannot do such a thing. This is absolutely not allowed and cannot be condoned.
“I know people may curse me on social media. Of course, I am ashamed that we lost 10-0 but with the crowd incident at Shah Alam Stadium, I am also ashamed,” he added.
Meanwhile, Selangor police said they have set up a task force to track down the perpetrators involved in the fracas.
Selangor police chief Datuk Abdul Samah Mat said the task force will be led by state CID chief SAC Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah.
"We might release some photos to the media soon to assist in identifying more suspects,” he said.
Abdul Samah said police were investigating the source of the explosives used during the match.