KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football has lost its soul and the administrators of the sport in this country have no empathy for others.
Those were the bitter words of FA of Selangor deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar who abruptly quit his exco post in the FA of Malaysia (FAM) yesterday.
His startling resignation came after a spate of punishments, deemed as "excessive" by many fans, meted out to Selangor FC by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for withdrawing from the Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on May 10.
"Looking at the current state of football, even the patron of Selangor FC, Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has expressed extreme disappointment. This raises serious questions about the direction and values in football administration," said Shahril today.
Shahril stressed the importance of upholding fairness and compassion in managing football issues.
"It's imperative to responsibly enforce rules and punishments in accordance with established processes," he said.
The MFL fined Selangor FC RM100,000, docked them three league points, and ordered the Red Giants to play their home game against JDT behind closed doors. On top of that, Selangor must compensate JDT and the MFL for financial losses as a result of their pullout from the Charity Shield.
Selangor decided not to play the match, citing security concerns following criminal incidents, including a horrific acid attack on winger Faisal Halim on May 5.
"We are exploring all avenues, including an appeal and potentially taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Our commitment remains unwavering; we will continue to pursue justice," said Shahril.
Meanwhile, the MFL has stayed silent, and not responded to the statement released by the Selangor Palace yesterday. When approached by Timesport, MFL officials said: "No comments".