KUALA LUMPUR: If the Malaysian Football League (MFL) thought Selangor FC would be an obedient student or stakeholder and accept the heavy penalties, they were gravely wrong.
Sultan of Selangor, Sharafuddin Idris Shah, voiced his anger and disappointment at MFL over the RM100,000 fine imposed on Selangor for pulling out of the Charity Shield-cum-Super League match on May 10.
Sultan Sharafuddin also reprimanded FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Amin, who is from Selangor, for not taking a serious stand despite starting his career as a football administrator at the FA of Selangor (FAS).
Sultan Sharafuddin suggested that if he were leading FAS, he would withdraw the team from the Super League for a certain period.
Fair enough, MFL played by the book when they decided not to grant Selangor's request to postpone the Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) due to safety issues, considering that the police guaranteed security.
Citing the May 5 acid attack on Faisal Halim, Sultan Sharafuddin added that the postponement of the Charity Shield match was consented by him out of consideration for the winger and the Selangor players.
This conflict would have been avoided had the MFL postponed the match as it was an unprecedented attack against Faisal. Furthermore, a few other footballers were attacked while Selangor FC officials were also threatened.
The Sultan signed off by saying he "considers the decision by the MFL irresponsible, made without compassion, inhumane, and lacking in concern for the injustice that occurred."
Although it was the board of directors' decision to fine, dock points, and make Selangor pay for losses to MFL and JDT for the no-show, it was a collective decision, and those in MFL, including FAM boss Hamidin, must respect Sultan Sharafuddin and respond to his concerns of lacking compassion.
Football belongs to the people, and whether anyone likes it or not, Selangor are the biggest team in Malaysian football, and nobody can take that status away from them.
The M-League, which includes the Super League, FA Cup, Malaysia Cup, and Charity Shield, will not survive and become unentertaining without the presence of Selangor.
MFL has also ordered Selangor to host the Super League behind closed doors at MBPJ Stadium, Kelana Jaya, in November. Though MFL has explained the reasons behind it, any punishment should be imposed immediately, which is during Selangor's next match, not against JDT in four months' time.
This scribe's best advice is for Hamidin as president of FAM to convince MFL to drop the heavy-handed action against Selangor for the sake of Malaysian football.
As a diehard Selangor football fan, this scribe is very angry with what has transpired against Selangor. Every Selangor-born, except for a few, share the same sentiment.
FAS deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar even resigned from his FAM exco post. Will other Selangor-born FAM officials resign as well?
Even kids want to break their piggy banks and donate their savings to help Selangor FC while many netizens are angry with one saying: "FAM and MFL should pack up their offices and move somewhere else."
This is what you call unity and solidarity.
And we must thank Sultan Sharafuddin for his stand, which others should follow.
The Red Giants should not back down and keep quiet. Selangor should appeal and wait for the outcome.
If they are not satisfied, use all legal avenues, even to the extent of filing a case in court or the Court of Arbitration, to fight and seek justice.
Withdrawing from the Super League might just be the icing on the cake to teach everyone a lesson.
Selangor, among the richest states in the country, definitely has the financial muscle to launch a spinoff league and attract top players and sponsors.
This is not an issue between the rich and the poor, or royalty and commoner. It's about football, and Selangor definitely feel they are the victim.
Hidup, Selangor.