ON JUNE 11, Bahrain defeated Malaysia in the AFC Asian Cup final round by 2-1, Group E qualifying match, at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Since then, many have hurled brickbats at the Malaysian team for missing out on various opportunities during the game, which includes criticism over the pitch getting inundated after a heavy downpour, leaving staffers clearing the water from the field manually.
However, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu came up with a bizarre statement to defend goalkeeper Farizal Marlias for conceding a penalty shot to Bahrain’s striker Abdullah Yusuf Helal.
According to the minister, Farizal got distracted by a sudden cheer by the crowd!
“There were external factors to Farizal’s miss. There were 63,000 spectators there and we must consider the fact that he got distracted by a sudden cheer by the crowd.
“That sort of cheer can make players lose focus, hence we failed to deliver.
“So, we can’t blame players alone as we spectators also cause them to lose focus,” Harian Metro reported the Tambun MP was reported as saying.
Ahmad Faizal’s strange defence of the Harimau Malaya team drew stitches from netizens, who took to social media to mock him.
(You expect the crowd to keep silent at the stadium?)
Echoing Najib’s sentiments, user Liz Laurencia added:
(So, that’s why we lost? Next time please put a sign that says “be silent”. May I suggest we play football without crowd in the future?)
Netizen Hadrey Ali jested:
(Let’s change venue and play football at the library. Surely, everyone will be quiet and players can stay focused)
Peja an imbecile
However, other netizens were not amused by Ahmad Faizal’s outlandish excuse and admonished him.
(Peja is getting too ridiculous. Instead of feeling remorse and quitting for failing, he is blaming the crowd)
Netizen Huzairy Basin retorted:
(This is the most idiotic minister since Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. How unfortunate for our youths to have a half-baked leader like him) – June 14, 2022
Main photo credit: NST
