Perak affected by the suspension of 5 players

Perak are in a predicament.

Five of their players – Akmal Rizal Rakhli, third choice national goalkeeper Nasril Nourdin, Syazwan Roslan, Azmeer Yusoff and skipper Shahrulnizam Mustapha – are serving seven-match suspensions after allegedly attacking referee Mohd Sabri Mat Lazim during a Super League match against Sabah at the TLDM Stadium in Lumut on May 19.
The quintet have also been fined RM4,000 each.

Perak have appealed against their suspensions but, with the Malaysia Cup campaign kicking off on Tuesday, there has been no word from the FAM.

The punishment, meted out by the FAM Disciplinary Board last month, completely rules them out of Perak’s entire preliminary round challenge as well as the first leg of the quarter-finals.

And this is causing sleepless nights for coach Norizan Bakar.

“I am hoping to hear some good news from FAM. It’s not easy to lose the services of five key players at one go,” Norizan said in a telephone interview from Ipoh yesterday.

“We do have replacement players but the suspended players have vast experience.

“I hope FAM will be lenient when deciding on our appeal and clear the five for the Malaysia Cup action as soon as possible.”