KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) have taken a tough stand against Sarawak United for their unprofessional behaviour in a recent Premier League match against Negri Sembilan.
Sarawak United received total fines of RM43,000 while coach E. Elavarasan was handed a 12-month suspended sentence and RM10,000 fine.
The match at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras on Sept 10 turned chaotic when Sarawak United players aggressively confronted referee Kamil Zakaria after the final whistle as they were unhappy with some of his decisions during the game.
However, the FAM had cleared Kamil of any wrongdoing on Sept 13.
The bad-tempered match also saw Sarawak United goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee Ramli getting the marching orders from Kamil for a foot-to-face challenge on Negri defender Zamri Ramli.
As a result, Sharbinee, a former national goalkeeper, was handed a five-match ban and RM7,000 fine for violent conduct.
"Sharbinee will serve his first suspension when Sarawak United play Johor Darul Ta'zim on Sept 21," said FAM disciplinary committee head Baljit Singh Sidhu in a statement yesterday.
"He will serve the remaining suspensions in the following M-League matches.
"Sharbinee, however, can appeal."
His teammate Amer Saidin received a two-match suspension while Badrul Affendy Fadzli has been suspended for four games.
Team official Rudy Bujang (six-month ban and RM10,000 fine) and Abang Fomay Abang Sa'adeli (two-match ban and RM10,000 fine) were also punished by FAM.
Touching on Elavarasan, Baljit said the coach had made statements to the media after the game without getting consent from FAM.
However, Elavarasan will not have to serve his suspension immediately.
"If Elavarasan is involved in a similar incident in the next one year, he will have to serve out his 12-month suspension. All officials, however, can appeal," Baljit added.