By K. RAJAN – PETALING JAYA: Perlis FA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was slapped with a two-and-a-half year ban and fined a total of RM39,000 for breaching the infamous “Article 88” Statutes of the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
The flamboyant Shahidan was found guilty on three charges by the FAM disciplinary committee yesterday.
He was punished for making a statement to the media for questioning the FAM’s policy matters, breaching Article 88, giving contradicting statement which is inaccurate and insulting the disciplinary committee.
Shahidan was fined RM20,000 for the first offence (media statement), RM10,000 and two-year ban for breaching Article 88 and an additional six-month and RM8,000 fine for the third offence (contradicting statement).
Shahidan was also deemed to have insulted the disciplinary committee for not sending a complete reply on his charge sheets and was fined an additional RM1,000.
Last year, FAM deputy president Tan Sri Annuar Musa was banned for 30 months. The FAM disciplinary committee found the Kelantan FA president’s negative statement against the national football team on Feb 12 had breached FAM’s Article 88.
FAM’s Article 88 states that only the president and the secretary-general can comment on the national team’s performance.
In another case, the Kelantan FA have been slapped with a RM62,500 fine for their fans unruly conduct during a Super League home match against Johor Darul Takzim on Jan 15.
Kelantan are also staring at the possibility of playing behind closed doors if they fail to control their supporters in their next home match against Perak at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru on March 1.
The disciplinary committee deputy chairman Ednan Othman said the committee found Kelantan guilty on three counts of failing to provide adequate safety in the stadium.
“We have come to this decision as we found that the action of Kelantan supporters is detrimental to the image of Malaysian football,” Ednan told a press conference after the disciplinary committee meeting at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
“We will send our committee members to observe Kelantan’s next home match and if there is any breach of the rules, Kelantan will have to play their next match behind closed doors.”
Kelantan have been handed the minimum punishment and they cannot appeal on the decisions.
The east coast side were found guilty of failing to provide adequate safety during the match and were fined RM20,000. They were fined RM20,000 (throwing fire crackers on the pitch), RM2,500 (throwing objects during the match) and RM20,000 (throwing objects against the rival fans).
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