KUALA LUMPUR: It sounds like tit for tat. Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) fans are demanding that their club be paid the prize money for winning the Super League three years ago.
They kicked up this issue as JDT face action from the FA of Malaysia (FAM) for their fans lighting flares during a Super League match against Negri Sembilan at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium last week.
Some supporters now said if there is any fine imposed on JDT, it should be deducted from the prize money still owing to the Southern Tigers.
However, FAM felt that the matter (raised by the fans) lies at a different field - at the Malaysian Football League (MFL), the organisers of the M-League.
FAM secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman said: "We have to keep in mind, JDT's prize money issue is with the MFL and not FAM.
"So there's no issue of FAM's decision being influenced by this... the disciplinary committee has always been impartial."
The MFL said that they have been paying the prize money in stages to JDT.
On JDT's DB hearing, Azman said FAM will handle the issue fairly as its disciplinary committee is an independent body.
The flare incident occurred just 48 hours after FAM fined JDT RM120,000 for their fans setting off flares during three matches at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this season.
The lighting of flares is in violation of FAM's Code of Conduct which prohibits supporters from bringing banned items into the stadium.
Azman said the match commissioner's report (on the JDT-Negri game) will be forwarded to the disciplinary committee headed by Datuk Baljit Singh.
"We will let the disciplinary committee, which is an independent committee, deliberate on the case.
"The disciplinary committee will have their justifications on the punishment meted out.
For the record, FAM handed out a total of RM346,000 in fines to teams last year.