FIFA has rejected Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)’s request to have Malaysia national team’s World Cup qualifiers against Palestine on a neutral venue next month.
There have been suggestions by FAM for the match to be held somewhere else as a precaution over the security situation in the West Bank, with national team head coach Ong Kim Swee also agreeing as his team’s safety comes first.
FIFA, however, insists that the Group A match on November 12 will take place as originally scheduled, with a tight security provided under supervision of a newly appointed security expert in cooperation with the Palestinian Football Association.
“FAM’s application to shift the match to a neutral ground was considered by the FIFA World Cup qualification bureau, and it was decided that the match will take place at the Dura Stadium in Hebron as plannned,” FAM said in a statement, as quoted by New Straits Times.
“The Palestinian authorities have undergo measures to ensure the safety of the Malaysian delegation in their time of stay.”
Kim Swee’s Malayan Tigers currently trail Palestine by one point in Group A, closing in after their precious 1-0 win over Timor Leste. Saudi Arabia leads the standings with 12 points.
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