MFL: Charity Shield will go on as scheduled despite unfortunate incident
PETALING JAYA: The Charity Shield match between Super League defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Selangor at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, will take place as scheduled this Friday.

Malaysian Football League (MFL) chief executive officer Datuk Stuart Ramalingam said there are no plans so far to postpone the Malaysian Super League opener in light of the unfortunate incident that happened to Selangor winger Faisal Halim on Sunday.

Faisal suffered an acid attack at a shopping mall in the Klang Valley. The incident has left him with fourth-degree burns and he has since been warded in the intensive care unit after undergoing surgery.

“The match will be played as scheduled on Friday. The MFL has not received any request from the teams to postpone this match.

‘‘If there is any latest development, we will announce it,” said Stuart.

JDT will defend the Charity Shield or the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup for the seventh consecutive time while Selangor are looking to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2010.

Faisal’s case is the second unfortunate incident to happen to a national team player after Mohd Akhyar Rashid suffered head and body injuries after he was attacked by two robbers near his home in Kuala Terengganu last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Stuart has dismissed the wild speculations that arose following the attacks on the two national players, including the involvement of match-fixing syndicates.

“Bookie (connection) is among the rumours that have arisen but I don’t think that is directly related,’’ said Stuart.

“The M-League is a league that we respect and all, including the players, are working to ensure the integrity of the league is maintained.”

Stuart added that the MFL will ensure that the level of security control throughout the competition will be increased.
football,fam,malaysia,Charity Shield
PETALING JAYA: The Charity Shield match between Super League defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Selangor at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, will take place as scheduled this Friday.