The FA of Malaysia (FAM) ended up the bigger losers compared to Kelantan following the east coast side’s fans’ trail of destruction in the Malaysia Cup final against Negri Sembilan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 7.
The Kelantan FA (Kafa), however, escaped lightly. They were fined just RM50,000 for their fans’ moment of madness while the FAM, who hosted the final and were largely responsible for the security measures, will have to pay the Stadium Board RM138,150 for the carnage (see chart).
The FAM disciplinary board found Kafa guilty of three charges and handed out a minimum punishment after deliberating for more than three hours at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
Disciplinary board deputy chairman Datuk Taufiq Razak said they had done a thorough investigation of the incident and had interviewed witnesses, including officials from the Stadium Board, match commissioner and match officials.
“We have taken into consideration all aspects before deciding on the punishment,” Taufiq told a press conference.
He said Kafa were found guilty for their fans’ action in setting off firecrackers, fireworks and pelting objects onto the tracks.
“For this they were imposed with a minimum fine of RM5,000,” he said.
Taufiq added that Kafa were handed a minimum fine of RM20,000 for the second charge of fans throwing objects at a match official and injuring him.
The third charge, damaging stadium facilities, saw Kafa being handed a minimum fine of RM25,000.
Kafa president Tan Sri Annuar Musa was present at the hearing.
Taufiq said the FAM had done their best to provide adequate security, with some 1,600 security personnel present at the final.
“We are satisfied with the security measures taken. Even if we had employed 10,000 security personnel it would not have made much difference. We will inform FAM to take steps to tackle such problems,” he said.
FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said this was not the first time that they had paid for the damage caused by fans to the Stadium Board.
“We have a contract with them (Stadium Board). We also paid for the damage caused when the national team played against Manchester United in July and also the FA Cup final in April,” said Azzuddin.
Kafa have been punished previously by the disciplinary board for their fans’ actions this season and for not providing adequate security at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru.
On March 31, Kelantan fans threw missiles and water bottles onto the pitch and set off firecrackers during a highly charged Super League home match against Negri, which they lost 0-1.
Then, on April 7, the fans ran riot and overturned a police truck before setting it on fire outside the same venue after losing to Negri 1-2 in an FA Cup semi-final, first-leg match.
This time FAM came down on hard on Kafa, who were banned from using their home ground for one year and fined RM90,000. The one-year ban was later reduced to one month.
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