KUALA LUMPUR: FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Amin has found himself embroiled in a storm rocking Malaysian football.
It seems that Hamidin has earned the ire of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, following the punishment meted out to Selangor FC by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for withdrawing from the Charity Shield.
Sultan Sharafuddin, who is the patron of Selangor FC, has expressed his extreme disappointment and sadness over the MFL's drastic action as well as over Hamidin "not voicing his concerns seriously."
Sultan Sharafuddin, who is a former FA of Selangor (FAS) president, is unhappy with MFL's perceived excessive punishment of Selangor for pulling out of the Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) on May 10.
The MFL Board of Directors yesterday unanimously decided to fine Selangor FC RM100,000 (which will be give to a charitable organisation) and dock them three points for not participating in the Charity Shield match.
On top of that, the Red Giants' match against JDT (in November) will also be held behind closed doors at the MBPJ Stadium.
That's not all, Selangor will also have to compensate JDT and the MFL for losses incurred due to their withdrawal from the Charity Shield.
Sultan Sharafuddin said in a statement today: "I'm shocked and disappointed because Datuk Hamidin did not voice his concerns seriously, despite being the former secretary general of FAS from 1995-2013 and having extensive experience in Selangor football
"I'm very angry with this latest MFL decision, which I consider irresponsible, made without compassion, inhumane, and does not show concern for the injustice that has occurred.
"On May 5, a life-threatening acid attack incident happened to Selangor and Malaysia footballer Faisal Halim. Several other assault incidents on professional football players also occurred that same week. Because of this, I granted Selangor permission to request a postponement of the Charity Shield match because the players were still in a state of trauma and fear.
"However, the MFL rejected the postponement request and awarded a 3-0 victory and the Charity Shield to the opposing team."
And the situation has turned from bad to worse with FAM executive committee member Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, who is the FAS deputy president, quitting the national body today. He abruptly resigned as the chairman of FAM's sponsorship and marketing committee.
When Timesport contacted Hamidin for comments today, the FAM president said: "Not now, sorry."