Football: Kelantan denies allegations that the match was sold

2009/11/09

KOTA BAHARU: Kelantan today denied allegations that players had sold the match when playing against Negeri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup final on Saturday.

Kelantan team manager Azman Ibrahim said allegations that players had sold the match, or that head coach B. Sathianathan had failed to apply the right tactics or strategy, was totally uncalled for.

"This is are all just speculation...to me it is not true. Just because Kelantan lost, there are all types of accusations from various people," he told reporters after arriving at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa here today with the Kelantan team.

Though Kelantan had lost the final 1-3, about 50 fans turned up at the airport to welcome the team.

Azman said if there was evidence to proof that players had been on the take or if bookies had approached the players for the purpose, should come forward and report it to the Kelantan team management.

"We accept that initially there was some weakness in the positioning of players but that was rectified in the second half. Sathianathan though still new to the team, had been excellent during the semi-finals against Perlis and had also prepared the team well for the final," he said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) president Tan Sri Annuar Musa said people must not label Kelantan as unruly, just because some fans acted in a manner that can be deemed shameful.

"I am not trying to defend the action of fans who let off fireworks, threw missiles, burnt banners and chairs in the stadium, but we have done everything possible to avoid such a situation, especially after having faced severe penalty and sanctions before.

"However, everyone must work together as a team to overcome the security problems during such occasions. We must find a way to overcome such behaviour by the fans," he said.

He also urged the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to not punish the KAFA for the action of their fans.

"The success of the Kelantan was partly due to the fans and the fans were the main reason for the excitement and ambience during the final. I openly accept the result but some fans who had very high expectations on the team must have felt disappointed to retort to such action," he said. - Bernama