KUALA LUMPUR: Two rival groups of football supporters were involved in a clash after a match at the Bandar Tasik Selatan train station in Sungai Besi early this morning.
The group, comprising between 20 to 30 people, had just disembarked from a train and began behaving in an unruly manner. They attacked supporters from the opposite team who were travelling on the train.
The attackers threw rubbish bins, hurled kicks and punches and one of them even tried to drag one of the passengers out of the train carriage as the doors were closing.
All their rowdy acts, which were caught by the onlookers on their handphones as well as the CCTV recording from the station, have since gone viral on social media.
The 12.03am fight between the rival football fans also left train services temporarily disrupted and train station property damaged.
Cheras district police chief Assistant Commissioner Aidil Bolhassan said that based on a report lodged by an auxiliary policeman who was in the train, the fight broke out in a train that was travelling from Bukit Jalil to Sentul Timur.
"Tensions escalated when one group of fans disembarked and confronted rival supporters at the Bandar Tasik Selatan train station platform.
"The situation quickly turned physical, with an estimated 20 to 30 individuals throwing trash bins, elevator door barriers and kicking the train's glass doors, resulting in damage," he said, adding that two auxiliary policemen, including the complainant, intervened to break up the fight.
Based on the report, Aidil said the clash had caused the train to halt at the platform for about eight minutes before it continued its journey to Sentul. Aidil said the auxiliary policemen then escorted the fans safely out of the Bandar Tasik Selatan station.
Footage of the incident, captured by bystanders, has been widely shared online, sparking public outrage.
Comments on social media platforms reflected a mix of condemnation, frustration and humour.
Here are some of the comments : @MalaysianRider95: "This isn't football spirit; this is pure hooliganism. Damaging public property over a game? Ridiculous!"
@AmiraLovesFootball: "It's embarrassing to see this kind of behaviour. Grow up, people. Football is supposed to unite us, not divide us."
@TrainCommuterMY: "How am I supposed to trust public transport when fans act like this? Some of us just want to get home safely!"
@BolaMania77: "Throwing trash bins and barriers? Are they training for the next World Cup or WWE?"
@Farid22: "These fans should be fined and banned from matches. They're giving Malaysian football a bad name."
Aidil said the case was under investigation. So far no arrests have been made.
"No injuries were reported during the altercation, but we urge the public to refrain from such acts as it could disrupt train services and endanger the safety of other passengers," he said.