Cops wrapping up probe into Sukma football commotion

 

The match became heated when Federal Territories’ player Iman Fakhrullah Zamri was shown the red card in the 88th minute for kicking an opponent. (Bernama pic)

SHAH ALAM: Police are in the process of completing their investigation into the commotion that occurred during the Malaysia Games (Sukma) men’s football semi-final between Penang and the Federal Territories at Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) stadium here last night.

Shah Alam district police chief Iqbal Ibrahim said they have received reports from those involved and several individuals have also been called up to give their statements, including coaches, referees and match officials.

He said preliminary investigations found that the incident occurred after a player was shown the red card. This caused an individual believed to be an official on one of the teams to be upset and cause a commotion.

“The game was then stopped for a while due to the commotion and resumed after the situation calmed down,” he told reporters after the launching of a book “Korupsi dan Kemunafikan dalam Politik Melayu; Perlunya Disegerakan Transformasi Moral Etika” by Kamal Hassan here.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Iqbal also advised those involved in competitions not to become too emotional during matches so as to prevent any provocation or commotion.

The media reported that the match between Penang and the Federal Territories became heated when the latter’s Iman Fakhrullah Zamri was shown the red card in the 88th minute for kicking an opponent. The situation worsened when players began pushing and shoving one another.

A Federal Territories official confronted the referee, who then showed the official the red card. Upset, the official then chased after the referee when ordered to leave the field.

Meanwhile, on the status of missing former television newscaster Zalina Shaharah Azman, who has been reported missing since last November, Iqbal said there have been no new leads regarding the case. - FMT