PETALING JAYA, Nov 11 — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) should be held responsible for damage caused to the National Stadium at the weekend’s cup final, according to the sports minister.
The Kelantan FA (KAFA) are due to be punished later today by the FAM for their fans’ unruly and unsporting behaviour during Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Negri Sembilan.
Fans from both teams let off fire crackers and smoke bombs and threw bottles and other missiles onto the pitch while Kelantan fans set fire to plastic seats in the stadium.
“Although the FAM promised a percentage from its gate collection, it has to be held responsible for any damage,” Ahmad Shabery Cheek told reporters at the Parliament lobby, news agency Bernama reported.
KAFA has previously been punished for their fans’ poor behaviour and for not providing adequate security at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru.
In March, Kelantan fans threw missiles onto the pitch and set off fire crackers during a highly-charged Super League home match against Negri, which they lost 1-0.
A week later Kelantan fans ran riot and overturned a police truck before setting it on fire outside the same venue after losing 2-1 to Negri in an FA Cup semi-final, first-leg match.
On that occasion the FAM came down hard on KAFA, who were banned from playing at home for one year.
The ban was later reduced to one month. — Reuters
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