KUALA LUMPUR: It's time for Malaysian football to demonstrate goodwill and stay calm amid the rising tensions among M-League fans.
In the past week, three footballers faced harrowing situations, with two being physically harmed.
The nightmares began on Thursday last week with Terengganu FC player Akhyar Rashid getting beaten up and robbed in Kuala Terengganu. Three days later, Selangor's Faisal Halim sustained severe injuries after being splashed with acid in Damansara. And on Tuesday, Johor Darul Ta'zim player Safiq Rahim's car's rear windscreen was smashed in Johor Baru.
The series of attacks by unknown assailants have sparked tension and anger among fans, and even leading to rival groups spewing abusive words on social media.
Faisal's Selangor team have even requested for their Charity Shield season opener against JDT at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Friday to be postponed due to safety concerns.
However, the Malaysian Football League announced today that the Charity Shield match will proceed as scheduled.
Sports critic Sadek Mustaffa also felt that the Charity Shield match should go ahead and that it can serve as a means to restore goodwill and sportsmanship in Malaysian football.
He said that as hosts, JDT should take responsibility for the safety of visiting fans and demonstrate sincerity in alleviating tensions.
"JDT can extend an olive branch by welcoming Selangor fans to their stadium and ensuring everyone's safety without police involvement. This gesture could foster positivity and ease resentment between fans, it should be voluntary and not mandated by rules," said Sadek.
"The animosity between fans, especially between JDT and Selangor, has escalated recently. While rivalry is normal, it has evolved into hatred, manifesting in violence.
"The incidents involving Selangor and JDT players are becoming retaliatory. It's already tragic with Faisal's gruesome attack, and now Safiq's car has been vandalised.
"We need to prevent further escalation, or violence will become the norm for both sets of fans.
"That's why I believe JDT need to show magnanimity, exhibit sportsmanship, and reconcile with Selangor fans at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium."
Sadek, who is a senior lecturer in Sports Science and Recreation at Universiti Teknologi Mara, said that postponing the Charity Shield match would not be the best solution in these difficult times.
He said the fans who have called for Selangor to withdraw from the M-League are being immature and emotional, and that this would only harm Malaysian football.
"I understand the call to postpone the Charity Shield match due to safety concerns, but it would send a negative signal about Malaysian football. We cannot allow violence to dictate the course of Malaysian football. Players could become targets to force match postponements.
"The performance of our national team could suffer if the M-League does not operate smoothly. Sponsors could withdraw support, damaging the country's image.
"Things don't look promising for Malaysian football (for now) but I believe there is plenty of goodwill among our football fans, and we need to initiate change."
