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KUALA LUMPUR − The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is taking a wait-and-see approach following the move of Sabah FC player Rizal Ghazali, who declined the invitation to join the Harimau Malaya squad’s centralised training camp.
FAM secretary-general Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar said since the training was being held outside the date of the Fifa International Match Calendar, no action could be taken against the defender.
“We can only take action if he does not attend the national training on the Fifa date, which is March 21.
“If he does not show up on that date, we will take the matter to the disciplinary committee, which can act against him,” he told reporters when met at the Harimau Malaya squad training camp at Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
The Fifa calendar for this month runs from March 21-29.
Saifuddin said his office did not receive any official letter on Rizal’s excuse for not joining the national squad following the notification made by FAM yesterday through a statement.
“I was only informed by national coach Kim Pan-Gon that the player did not turn up,” he said.
Asked about the punishment for players who declined to join the national squad, he said they face suspension from playing in the domestic league apart from a possible fine of RM25,000.
Yesterday, Pan-Gon through a statement issued by FAM informed that Negeri Sembilan FC defender Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee would join the Harimau Malaya squad’s centralised training camp, which started yesterday ahead of the visit to Singapore next week for the 2022 FAS Tri-Nation Series.
Khuzaimi was picked to replace Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player Syahmi Safari, who requested for an exemption following the birth of his triplets.
Pan-Gon said the original plan was to replace Syahmi with a player in the same position, namely right defender, but Sabah FC’s Ghazali declined the invitation. – Bernama, March 15, 2022
