Malaysia FA accused of 'grudge' against Perak FC

Mustapha Kamaruddin reports in the Malay Mail that Perak Football Club fans are of the opinion the Football Association of Malaysia practices "double standards" when delivering sentences on players and officials who misbehave. "What they want is for FAM to be fair – otherwise fans will lose faith in them or worse, in local soccer. Their grouses and frustration are understandable," he wrote.

"Looking at statistics, Perak officials and players seem to be given stiffer sentences. The latest was the 12-month ban on team manager Datuk Jamal Nasir Rasdi for his outburst in the media on referee Manjit Singh’s performance in the Perak-MPPJ match on 31 December. There were others who committed the same offence but received lighter sentences ...

"It is not known why FAM have a 'grudge' against Perak. It started in 1991 when team manager Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar was banned for three years for his outburst against a referee and FAM after the FA Cup final against Selangor. Never before has an official been banned this long for speaking his mind. In the late 1990s, Perak were fined RM50,000 for refusing to play against Sarawak in Kuching as they felt the lighting were poor and not conducive for a match. Raja Ahmad, now a Datuk, was the team manager then with the controversial Karl Weigang as coach."

Kamaruddin also alleged there "were several other incidents where Perak received stiffer punishments than other teams. Perak skipper Ahmad Shahrul Azhar was banned 12 months for his antics against the fourth official after receiving a red card against MPPJ."