KUALA LUMPUR: THE FA of Malaysia (FAM) were fined a whopping US$56,000 (RM236,834) by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Tuesday for various offences committed in the Asian Cup qualifiers and the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August.
A bulk of the fines were for offences in the Sea Games football competition.
National coach Nelo Vingada was also penalised US$5,000 (RM21,145) for bringing the Asian Cup qualifying match between Malaysia and Hong Kong at Hang Jebat Stadium on Sept 5 into disrepute for his insulting comments against Australian referee Christopher Beath during the post-match press conference.
As for Safiq Rahim, the national captain was fined RM1,000 (RM4,229) and banned for one match (which he will serve out against North Korea in Bangkok on Nov 10) following his red card in the Asian Cup qualifiers against Hong Kong on Oct 10.
FAM were fined a total of USD13,500 (RM57,093) for offences committed by the fans and the national players during the Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on Sept 5.
The national players harassed the referee in stoppage time while fans hurled missiles, water bottles, cans and cups at match officials (Beath along with the linesmen Matthew Cream and Ashley Beecham, and four official Steve Supresencia of the Philippines) after the final whistle.
FAM were fined a total of US$42,500 (RM179,747) for offences committed in four matches in the Sea Games.
The national body were fined US$15,000 (RM63,438) for offensive chants (“We come down to Shah Alam, one soul supporting Malaysia, Brunei dogs should be killed”) by fans in the match between Malaysia and Brunei at Shah Alam Stadium on Aug 14.
AFC penalised FAM the same amount for derogatory chants (“We come down to Shah Alam, one soul supporting Malaysia, Singapore dogs should be killed” and “Singapore is a dog, Singapore is a dog, Singapore is a dog) by Malaysian fans against Singapore when both teams played in a Sea Games group match two days later.
FAM were fined another US$7,500 (RM31,717) after fans let off smoke bombs in the semi-finals between Malaysia and Indonesia, also at Shah Alam Stadium, on Aug 26.
The national body were also penalised US$5,000 (RM21,145) after fans threw water bottles onto the pitch during the match between Indonesia and Cambodia. FAM were held responsible as they were the Sea Games hosts.