Unruly supporters disrupt hockey friendly

The Chinese players leaving the pitch five minutes before the end following taunts from the Ultras Malaya.

(The Star) – Unruly football fans almost caused the Malaysia-Liaoning Club hockey friendly at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday to be abandoned.

The fans, believed to be members of the Ultras Malaya Supporters Club, were on the way to watch the FA Cup semi-final second-leg match between Pahang-Johor Darul Takzim at the adjacent stadium later in the night, heckled China’s Liaoning Club coach Kim Yong-soo and his players.

They also used flares and bombarded Yong-soo, who was umpiring the friendly, with foul language. The South Korean was so incensed that he confronted the fans and a fight almost broke up.

The Chinese team were on the verge of walking out of the pitch with nine minutes of the game remaining. Play was stopped for a few minutes as the Malaysian officials, particularly national assistant coach S. Arul Selvaraj, intervened and persuaded the Liaoning side to continue the match. The police were also around to prevent an ugly incident.

When the match resumed, Arul replaced Yong-soo as the umpire.

Yong-soo said that he was annoyed as foul language was used against him and his players.

“They call us names and I confronted them for using such words,” added Yong-soo.

Malaysia, parading all the key players, triumphed 5-0. With the win, the Malaysians were 3-1 victors in the four-match series. They won 2-1 and 4-2 in the opening two matches but lost 4-3 on Friday.

In yesterday’s match, Malaysia scored through Chua Boon Huat (fourth minute), Izwan Firdaus (30th), Faizal Saari (50th), Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim (58th) and Mohd Firhan Ashaari (60th).

The Malaysians, who are preparing for the World League semi-finals in Johor Baru from June 29-July 7, will leave for South Africa today for a four-match Test.