Players’ safety guaranteed if Charity Shield football match proceeds, says IGP
Published on: Wednesday, May 08, 2024
By: FMT
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the necessary manpower has been mustered by the Johor cops in preparation for this Friday’s game.
PETALING JAYA: Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain today said that the safety and well-being of Selangor FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players would be guaranteed in the event that the Charity Shield match slated for this Friday proceeds following a series of attacks on footballers.
Razarudin said the necessary manpower has been mustered by the Johor police in preparation for the game, which Selangor FC had asked to be postponed.
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“The decision whether to postpone the match is up to the Malaysian Football League (MFL), not me.
“But as stated by Johor police chief (M Kumar), a large number of officers and personnel have been organised to ensure the safety of both players and fans.
“I believe that the safety of all will be guaranteed, God willing,” he told FMT.
Selangor FC had applied to postpone the 2024/2025 season-opening Charity Shield match against JDT due to safety reasons.
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MFL CEO Stuart Ramalingam told FMT yesterday that discussions on the match were ongoing with both teams.
This follows an acid attack on Selangor FC winger Faisal Halim, who is in serious condition and receiving treatment at a private hospital in Shah Alam.
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Faisal was splashed with acid by two unknown assailants at a shopping mall in Kota Damansara here and suffered fourth-degree burns.
It was the second attack on a footballer last week after Terengganu FC winger Akhyar Rashid was attacked by two robbers upon his return from training on Thursday night.
Last night, JDT player Safiq Rahim was attacked by two men on a motorcycle, one of whom used a hammer to break the rear windscreen of his car. A police report was lodged.
The Football Association of Malaysia has since recommended that players consider hiring bodyguards to ensure their personal safety.
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