November 08, 2009 20:55 PM

Shabery Dismayed At Football Fans' Behaviour, Wants Action

HULU TERENGGANU, Nov 8 (Bernama)-- The Bukit Jalil Stadium Corporation has been told to prepare a detailed report on the damage caused to the National Stadium in the ruckus created by some football fans during the Malaysia Cup final last night where Negeri Sembilan defeated Kelantan.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said he wanted a police report lodged if there were elements of sabotage in the incident which saw a few spectator seats on fire.

"I myself saw two or three seats on fire but I do not want to accuse any of the two teams' fans. I believe the police have the cameras to show the culprits responsible, who must be brought to book," he said.

Ahmad Shabery was met at a function with young volunteers for the ministry who were helping flood victims in Kg Bukit Tadok, here, Sunday.

He was asked to comment on last night's trouble at the stadium believed to have been caused by some dissatisfied Kelantan football fans when their team lost to Negeri Sembilan 3-1, which also ended the latter's 61-year wait for the prestigious Malaysia Cup.

Ahmad Shabery said the fires set to the chairs could have caused a tragedy if not for the quick action of the security personnel at the stadium to extinguish the fires.

He is also displeased with the action of some fans who made the stadium a political battleground when they brought in party flags and symbols.

He said this should not happen as it could cause tension or fights among supporters with different political leanings when a sporting event should take place in the spirit of muhibah and good sportsmanship.

On the action to be taken against teams which failed to control their supporters, he said he left it to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to decide.

In SEREMBAN, Negeri Sembilan football fans expressed disappointment over the rowdy behaviour of some Kelantan football fans at the National Stadium last night.

The deputy president of n9futbol.com (e-Negeri Sembilan Football Fans), Mohd Faidzul Mohamad Noh, said such incidents like setting off firecrackers, throwing objects like water bottles at others, and setting fire to seats and banners showed that the Kelantan fans were bad losers.

"They should have learned a lesson from the action taken by FAM before because of the violence they displayed," he told Bernama when contacted Sunday.

"It was as though they were at the stadium last night not to support their team but to provoke and create trouble."

He said getting to the Malaysia Cup final alone was a big achievement which they should be proud of, hence they should control their emotions as "winning or losing is part of the game".

Mohd Faidzul suggested that security be tightened at the stadium, especially at the entrances, in future and called for drastic action against the Kelantan Football Association for the violent behaviour of their fans.

Negeri Sembilan Youth Council president Wan Mohd Fazamy Aswandy Mohd Razali also hit out at some of the Kelantan fans for their unsporting behaviour, and said that last night's incident could have been avoided if there were stringent security measures at the stadium entrances.

Both he and Mohd Faidzul, however, praised the Negeri Sembilan football fans for being sensible in such an atmosphere and not moving from their seats although their safety was under threat.

-- BERNAMA

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