FLARES and hooligans marching threateningly towards an away venue. One could be forgiven for thinking this scene was from a European or South American city where football-related trouble is commonplace.
But the latest incident didn’t take place abroad but in the idyllic surroundings of the Kuala Terengganu drawbridge when scores of Selangor supporters burned flares and engaged in gangster- and hooligan-like behaviour prior to the 1-1 draw between the two state teams.
This show of anti-social behaviour drew the ire of the Sultan of Selangor who asked the cops to throw the book at those found guilty of causing disturbances and besmirching the good name of the state and its football team.
A total of 33 Merah Kuning (red and yellow nickname for Selangor FC diehards) supporters were arrested relating to the incident.
It appears these have become the calling cards for domestic football to go along with the nether-region placing of 121st in FIFA’s world ranking for the national team, causing many local football fans to be lose faith in the domestic game.
This is not to mention the embarrassing naturalisation scandal engulfing the national governing body, FAM (Football Association of Malaysia).
Instead of copying the positive aspects of the game from their counterparts abroad, it seems that local fans are intent on importing a very unwelcome aspect of the sport into a hitherto docile domestic league.
With sparsely populated stadiums for domestic fixtures, the portent for trouble seemed very far away but this group of Selangor fanatics were hellbent on making a name for themselves.
News of this show of radical support was shared on Malaysiakini’s BM-language platform on Facebook, drawing many sports fans to comment on the state of the domestic game.
A few poked fun at the pseudo-hooligan behaviour of these supporters.
One commenter cheekily suggested that he mistook the mob for an UMNO Youth rally.
It was also surmised that such anti-social behaviour was the reason behind the Red Giants’ fans unpopularity at away grounds, leading them to be used as target practice by the home team.
Reminding local football fans to not get caught up in state partisanship, one commenter pointed to the Malay culture of respectfulness that should be adhered to especially when visiting other stadiums.
It is one thing to march and light flares on your own turf but quite another at an away venue, he counselled. Be courteous and mindful was the message here.
The assumption that these hardcore fanatics or “ultras” were the best supporters was given short shrift. They did nothing but give the sport and state a bad name.
It is indeed saddening to see the state of local football attracting such constant negative headlines.
Instead of aping hooligan culture from abroad, many genuine supporters probably wished the standard of football was higher which in turn would attract greater crowds into stadiums.
In the meantime, one commenter shared a useful piece of advice for these wannabe ultras and hooligans – next time you leave your house, please don’t forget your brains.
- focus malaysia
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