FAM to investigate displeasure with referees' performances - Sivasundaram

By Vikneswaran Raman

PETALING JAYA, March 22 -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will investigate the performance of referees involving Super and Premier League matches held over the weekend on the dissatisfaction of fans and netizens.

FAM Referees Committee chairman Datuk S. Sivasundaram, who has to deal with the latest issues despite being just appointed on Saturday night, said he would look into the matter.

The experienced football administrator, who is also the FAM deputy president, said he first need to form his committee the soonest possible to manage any arising issues related to match officials, over the next few days.

“I am still waiting for referee match reports and reports from Referee Department, and will discuss it with our committee members before deciding anything. If a player or coach was found committing an offence, he will be referred to the respective committees.

“Actions will be taken in accordance to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and International Football Federation (FIFA) regulations. I would like to follow whatever regulations in line with the regional and world body,” he told Bernama when met at Wisma FAM here, today.

The decisions of referee Khailazuan Kidam in Sunday’s Super League match between Sabah FC and Terengganu FC as well as referee Noor Azriel Baharudin in the Perak FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) match have been questioned by the fans and netizens.

Sabah managed to edge Terengganu 2-1 at Likas Stadium with head coach Nafuzi Zain shown a  yellow card after losing his temper, while Perak levelled 2-2 with seven-time champions JDT at Perak Stadium, in a match that ended in a commotion.

On Saturday, Perak II head coach Syamsul Mohd Saad expressed his displeasure with match referee after losing 2-3 to JDT II in a Premier League match at Larkin.

Last week, FAM suspended referee Mohd Fairuzi Mat Desa for two weeks and referred him to the Manager of Referee Development and Professional Referee in FAM, Nagor Amir Noor Mohamed after he failed to spot PJ City FC player Ahmad Khairil Anuar Ahmad Zamri’s attempt at diving inside the box to earn a penalty kick against Melaka United on March 10.

Mohd Amirul Aizat Mohd Lodin, who officiated the Premier League match between Kelantan FC and Perak FC on March 6, was also referred to Nagor Amir for being in the wrong position in the penalty box, resulting in him being pushed aside by Kelantan FC striker Jack Hindle.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Khairil and Hindle, who pushed the referee aggressively as he could not take a shot because the official stood in his way, have been referred to Disciplinary Committee.

-- BERNAMA