After suffering three consecutive losses, Penang fans were hoping for a do-or-die clash against Sarawak last night at the Batu Kawan stadium. Instead, all they got was an unorganised team easily losing possession and making half-hearted attempts at goals.
As soon as Sarawak scored their goal, the crowd started chanting “FAP Bangsat”. As the final whistle went off with Sarawak bagging the win with 1-0, Penang fans, who felt cheated, decided that they will have no more of this.
flares at penang stadium https://t.co/jHMgT0cBl9
— StadiumMY 🇲🇾 (@StadiumMY) February 11, 2017
The audience saw flares being thrown in the stadium, and the crowd verbally abusing the match officials.
Outside the stadium, the angry crowd wreaked havoc as they shook the gates to get into the FAP entrance, possibly to get hold of Zairil Khir Johari.
Penang fans going insane https://t.co/MWTWClCSWo
— StadiumMY 🇲🇾 (@StadiumMY) February 11, 2017
They continued to throw flares at the entrance of the Batu Kawan stadium, and eventually the FRU charged at the fans with batons in order to disperse them.
“Things have been so messy since Zairil took over. We keep losing, and he brought in reject players like Diogo into the team. How can we stay silent?” one fan said. “He knows nothing about football and he’s just killing the team.”
flares outside too! #penang https://t.co/scxKzOSKiN
— StadiumMY 🇲🇾 (@StadiumMY) February 11, 2017
Another fan justified the actions by saying that they really have no other way to voice their discontent. “We have Zairil who is destroying the team, and then we have Westwood playing all the players out of position. We are at the bottom of the table. How can we let this happen?” The fan also questioned why players like Reuben are not even named in the squad.
Zairil and Westwood could not be contacted for comments.
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