KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21— The Pahang Football Association (Pahang FA) can forget about its team playing in any of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club tournaments until 2020.
This is following the decision of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Disciplinary Committee, which prohibits Pahang FA from applying for an AFC Club Licence for two years from 2018, to participate in any AFC tournaments, after the Tok Gajah squad refused to join the 2018 AFC Cup .
FAM Disciplinary Committee chairman Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu said Pahang had violated Article 14 (member obligation) of FAM’s Statute, for failure to comply with the FAM's directive to register the team to play in the competition, despite finishing second in the 2017 Super League and having an AFC Club License.
“According to the provisions of Article 14 in FAM’s Statute, members’ obligation demands that the team fully complies with the statutes, rules, directives and decisions of Fifa, AFC and FAM. Pahang has also been given warning, and a heavier penalty will be imposed if it repeats the offence. However, this decision can be appealed,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Perak Football Association (Pafa) was fined a total of RM35,000, and will have to play two matches in an empty stadium as well as a stern warning following four counts involving a commotion after the Malaysia Cup semifinal action between Perak and Johor Darul Ta'zim at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh, Oct 15.
“The committee has also decided to adopt Article 35 of the Code where the second game to be played without an audience as mentioned above will be postponed, subject to offence not being repeated, referring to Article 68 of the Code,” he said.
The second match penalty would be immediately enforced if Perak is found repeating the offence within a year from Dec 20, 2017.
The committee also handed down a three-match suspension, a fine of RM1,500 and warning against Terengganu City FC’s Mohd Haris Safwan Mohd Kamal, who acted aggressively by slapping Felcra FC player, Ammar Akhmal Alias, in the second leg of the FAM Cup quarterfinal at Arena UM on Sept 27.
Two other Terengganu City FC players, Shafuan Adli Shaari and Syam Shahril Ghulam were each suspended for five matches, fined RM3,000 and given stern warning for unsporting behaviour, namely entering the playing field and chasing referee Abd Rahman Wahab during the match.
“Terengganu City FC goalkeeping coach Zulkipli Ismail has been suspended from being involved in official and unofficial matches, namely Malaysian League matches and friendlies for six-months from yesterday until June 19, 2018, with a fine of RM5,000, and stern warning.
“This is due to his violent behaviour of chasing and kicking first referee (Mohd Khairul Nizam Radzali) on the left calf, in the same match. All these decisions can be appealed,” he added. — Bernama
