Malaysia Cup: Negeri Sembilan's Group C rivals awarded 3-0 wins - MFL

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 -- With the withdrawal of Negeri Sembilan FC from the 2021 Malaysia Cup competition after almost the whole team tested positive for COVID-19, the three other teams in Group C will be awarded 3-0 wins.

Malaysian Football League (MFL) chief executive officer Stuart Ramalingam said in a statement that the decision was taken after referring to Section 13: SOP Compliance on the hosting of the 2021 Malaysia Cup matches.

He said that if team officials or players are found positive and required to undergo quarantine as stipulated by the Ministry of Health (MOH), which then results in the team not being able to train or take part in competitions, then matches involving the affected club would be cancelled.

“In their letter to the MFL, Negri Sembilan had decided not to continue playing in the group stage of the tournament for the sake of protecting the football sports bubble as well as for the safety of players and officials.

“This is because Negeri Sembilan, through their team doctor, had explained that the players and officials who tested positive would experience certain side effects due to infection, among them a decreased level of physical fitness and ‘detraining’ effects, post-COVID-19 infection symptoms as well as cardiovascular and other medical complications,” he said.

The decision is set to see Kedah Darul Aman (KDA) FC get six points without breaking a sweat, while Melaka United and Kelantan United will each get three free points.

In their remaining four group matches, Negeri Sembilan were scheduled to meet Kedah at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Oct 29 and at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar on Nov 2; Melaka in Paroi on Nov 6; and Kelantan in Paroi on Nov 9.

Earlier, Negeri Sembilan had announced that they were pulling out from the ongoing Malaysia Cup after 20 of their players and four officials tested positive for COVID-19 and were set to undergo 10-day compulsory quarantine.

Three-time Malaysia Cup winners Negeri Sembilan, who last lifted the Cup in 2011, are third in Group C with three points after losing 2-0 to Melaka and defeating Kelantan 1-0.

Stuart, who views the matter as an unfortunate incident, hoped that the Negeri Sembilan players and officials would remain strong and patient in facing the test and, hopefully, return to Malaysia Cup action soon.

Meanwhile, he also hoped that all the other teams would continue to remain vigilant and disciplined to protect the football sports bubble to ensure their 2021 Malaysia Cup campaign would not be derailed.  

-- BERNAMA