Selangor FC’s Faisal Halim Suffered Second-Degree Burns After Acid Attack, Sultan Condemns Act

On May 3, JDT’s football player Akhyar Rashid who is now playing on loan with Terengganu FC was robbed and suffered injuries to the head and leg. In another shocking incident, national football player Faisal Halim, who plays for Selangor FC, was splashed with acid at a shopping mall in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, on May 5, which resulted in second-degree burns.

The 26-year-old winger is also a key player with Harimau Malaya. As reported by The Star, he suffered injuries to his face, shoulder, and back and was brought to the hospital for treatment. He is now in stable condition.

Selangor FC has issued a statement on the incident confirming the attack. “The club takes this matter seriously and will work with the police and the authorities to carry out a detailed investigation to identify those involved,” the statement read.

Football Association of Malaysia’s president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin visited the hospital where Faisal was admitted. He said, “It’s sad to see him in such a state. His legs are fine, but his left hand, ribs and shoulder are injured because of the acid attack. He is feeling sad, but knowing how he is as a person, he has a strong heart. I told him to forget football for a while and focus on your recovery.”

Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) president Safee Sali urged authorities to step in, saying, “This is not good at all. Not good. Players for sure, will be on high alert now after what happened to Akhyar (Rashid) and Faisal.”

Sultan of Selangor Demands Immediate Police Probe

In a post on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page, both the Sultan and the Raja Muda Selangor expressed their desire that the Royal Malaysian Police investigate the attack thoroughly to discover the motive and apprehend the assailant as soon as possible. "His Royal Highness, as the patron of Selangor FC and the Selangor Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah, as the manager of Selangor FC, strongly condemn the immoral act," the statement read.

“His Royal Highness views the attack seriously and wants the investigation to consider the possibility of involvement by groups with bad intentions, including football hooligans.” The Sultan added that if such incidents were left unanswered, the situation might worsen and bring about more serious attacks in the future.

We pray that both Faisal and Akhyar make a speedy recovery.

Featured Image Credit: @redzuannewsmpb, @faisalhalim.7