AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s football body braced for possible punishment on Wednesday after flare-throwing fans forced the abandonment of a World Cup qualifier in ugly scenes which deepened the country’s soccer crisis. The embattled Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), under heavy fire since last week’s record 10-0 defeat to UAE, said it was “awaiting the decision of FIFA” after Tuesday’s incident.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said the regional body was “extremely concerned” and would support any investigation by world authority FIFA. “The AFC is extremely disappointed with the events which took place on Tuesday and we stress that we take such matters very seriously,” he said in a statement. “This sort of behaviour is deplored by all those who seek to protect the best interests of football in Asia,” the Bahraini added.