Malaysian royals duel over fines on Selangor FC for Charity Shield no-show against JDT

Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail expresses anger after Selangor sultan intervenes in Malaysian Football League’s decision to penalise the club

Reading Time:2 minutes

Spectators watch a game between Selangor FC and Perak FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Malaysia on June 23. Photo: Facebook/selangorfc

Published: 1:36pm, 28 Jun 2024Updated: 1:49pm, 28 Jun 2024

A public feud has erupted between two of Malaysia’s most influential royal families over fines imposed on top-tier team Selangor FC for a no-show at the 2024-25 season opening Charity Shield match in May.

The Malaysian Football League (MFL) on Thursday revised downwards penalties slapped on Selangor for skipping their match against Super League defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), after a rebuke by the Sultan of Selangor who accused tournament organisers of failing to show “sympathy and compassion” over security fears raised by players of his state’s team following an acid attack on star winger Faisal Halim.

But the decision enraged Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail, who openly questioned the intervention by his fellow ruler.

“After today, any club that does not pay salaries on time, or pulls out at their whims and fancy, or breaks any regulation, just need to ask their state’s Sultan to write a letter expressing anger,” Tunku Ismail, whose father is the current king, wrote on Facebook late Thursday.

“Teams from every state that have done something wrong can all now ask MFL to withdraw their decision by seeking the good will of their respective Tuanku Sultan to issue a letter. After this other Tuanku Sultans will also ask, why Selangor can get their punishment reduced but our state can’t?”