PETALING JAYA, Dec 13 — Selangor police have detained nine suspected hooligans who attacked Vietnam national football team’s supporters during the AFF Cup first leg semi-final match at Stadium Shah Alam last Sunday.
The nine men, aged between 19 and 29, were nabbed in sweeps across Klang Valley and Johor.
Selangor CID chief SAC Datuk Mohd Adnan Abdullah said the nine men, among the 15 people whose photographs were released by police, were picked up between Thursday night and Friday morning.
“All nine were brought to the Shah Alam magistrate’s court where a remand order till Dec 15 was obtained,” he said.
All nine detained are being investigated for rioting.
Mohd Adnan said five were picked up in Johor, two in Kuala Lumpur and another two in Selangor.
He said among the nine detained were those being investigated for a fight during this year’s Super League match between Johor and Perak.
The Malaysia-Vietnam football match was further marred when police received three reports claiming Perak fans had stones thrown at their bus outside of the stadium.
Mohd Adnan warned the remaining six individuals who are still at large.
“Surrender and make things easier for everyone because we will catch you,” he said.
On Tuesday five people surrendered to the police. They were released after they were questioned and their statements recorded.
Police personnel on duty during the match had made nine arrests, three were arrested for drug-related offences, one for documentation check and five for lighting up flares in the stadium.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the violence between Harimau Malaya and Vietnam’s Ao Do (The Red Jersey) supporters erupted after home fans taunted and threw bottles at the visiting fans when Malaysia lost 2-1.
He said this was established after statements were taken from witnesses and police officers at the match. The Vietnam nationals who were attacked declined to lodge police reports.
Malaysia won the second leg 4-2 at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Thursday. Malaysian fans had turned up with banners that read “We are sorry, Vietnam” in response to the attack.
Despite losing 5-4 on aggregate, Ao Do supporters were gracious in defeat and commended the Malaysian team on their victory.
Malaysia has advanced to the finals against Thailand. The away leg of the match will be held next Wednesday and the home match on Dec 20.
