KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) is compiling reports on the touchline altercation during Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final second leg between Kuching City and Selangor at Taha Arifin Stadium before referring the matter to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary committee.
The committee will assess the reports and determine whether any individuals or clubs should face disciplinary action.
MFL chief executive officer Shazli Shaik confirmed on Monday that reports from match officials and other personnel were being gathered before the matter was referred to FAM.
“MFL is currently gathering all the reports before submitting them to FAM for the disciplinary committee to make an assessment,” Shazli said.
“This includes reports from the match commissioner, general coordinator, the referee team, the referee assessor, as well as reports from the field officers.”
Any potential disciplinary action will be assessed under the FAM Disciplinary Code and relevant regulations, with the findings dependent on the official match reports and available video evidence.
Under IFAB Law 12, players can be cautioned for celebrations involving provocative, derisory or inflammatory gestures or actions.
Kuching midfielder Nazmi Faiz Mansor could come under scrutiny if the committee finds that his actions towards Selangor’s technical area amounted to deliberate provocation.
The conduct of Selangor’s bench personnel will also be assessed following the confrontation and the red cards shown during the incident. Any further action will depend on the referee’s reports and the committee’s findings.
Both clubs could also face scrutiny over the conduct of their players and officials during the confrontation.
The incident has drawn comparisons with previous disciplinary cases, including a Nov 2024 Super League clash involving Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Arif Aiman Hanapi and Perak’s Tommy Mawat Bada, who were handed three-match suspensions following an on-field altercation.
The MFL’s review follows a heated post-match press conference in Kuching on Sunday, where Selangor coach Kim Pan Gon refused to discuss his side’s 2-0 second-leg defeat, which sent them out 3-2 on aggregate.
The tie was decided deep into extra time when Selangor midfielder Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi turned the ball into his own net. Nazmi then ran towards the Selangor technical area to celebrate, triggering a confrontation involving players and members of both benches.
Security officers and match officials intervened as red cards were shown to members of Selangor’s bench.
Pan Gon alleged that Nazmi had approached him aggressively and demanded an investigation.
“A player scoring a goal cannot come over to the opposite bench to attack the head coach. That was number eight, Nazmi,” Pan Gon said.
“He came close… then disgrace as well in front of me. Our players and staff thought this boy would attack the head coach, that’s why they wanted to protect me. I don’t think our staff and players deserved red cards. MFL has to investigate.”
Kuching coach Aidil Sharin Sahak later played down the controversy, responding with a quip when asked about the dramatic match.
“Was the match dramatic? Well, maybe we watched a Korean drama today,” he said.
Aidil also questioned Selangor’s conduct during the match.
“How about his reactions over the full 90 minutes? How many yellow and red cards has he received? Let FAM or MFL do their jobs. The most important thing in football is to respect people first if you want people to respect you,” Aidil said.