SHAH ALAM - The Malaysian Football League (MFL) is urged to show solidarity with Selangor FC following the team's withdrawal from the Charity Shield match last Friday.
Local football observer Azlan Johar stressed that MFL, as the governing body, should demonstrate tolerance and understanding, particularly considering the unforeseen circumstances surrounding Selangor winger Faisal Halim.
Azlan said that no team would voluntarily withdraw without valid reasons and believes Selangor's decision was made in the best interest of the team's safety.
"Tolerance is paramount in this sports. If the MFL, as a respected body, leads or spearheads a major change, it should show sympathy for what Selangor has faced.
"If they were very considerate and did not impose a penalty, I think all football fans would agree with the MFL's actions.
"Of course there are those who disagree, but what happened to Selangor was something unexpected," he told Sinar when contacted.
Selangor FC had requested a postponement of the Charity Shield match due to safety concerns following an incident involving Faisal being attacked with acid and threats received by some club officials.
Despite the rejection of their application by MFL, Selangor decided to withdraw from the match due to the incident and the safety threat faced by players and officials.
The withdrawal may lead to punishment, with the matter being escalated to the MFL Board of Directors for further action.
Azlan, a former national player, commended Selangor's decision, highlighting their prioritisation of player welfare and safety over sporting outcomes.
He praised Selangor for its stance, emphasising that its concern for its players' well-being outweighed the importance of participating in the Sumbangsih Cup.
"This also proves that they don't care about points or winning but more about the welfare and safety of the players.
"It is fine not to be able to hold the Charity Cup. The important thing is that they take care of the players and the team, and besides wanting to show what happened to Faisal...it was very cruel," he said.