THE FA of Malaysia (FAM) has expressed regret over the alleged racial abuse of Chelsea's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun during the club's recent visit to Kuala Lumpur.
In response to Chelsea's official complaint on Thursday regarding the July 21 incident at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil against a Malaysian Selection, FAM said in a statement that only a small section of spectators in the 85,000 crowd was involved.
"The FA of Malaysia has received a complaint from English Premier League side Chelsea FC over alleged racist abuse targeted at Israeli midfielder, Yossi Benayoun, during a friendly match with the Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on July 21.
"The FA of Malaysia has received a complaint from English Premier League side Chelsea FC over alleged racist abuse targeted at Israeli midfielder, Yossi Benayoun, during a friendly match with the Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on July 21.
"From our initial observations, if such an incident took place, it would have involved a small section of spectators at the match and this surely does not reflect the feelings of the majority of fans in this football loving country.
"The FA of Malaysia would like to strongly register that we do not condone any form of racism in football. If such an incident did happen, we would like to apologise to the player concerned, and also to Chelsea FC," read the statement.
Israel captain Benayoun was the first athlete from his country to come to Malaysia since the Israeli cricket team competed at the 1997 ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur.
Israel captain Benayoun was the first athlete from his country to come to Malaysia since the Israeli cricket team competed at the 1997 ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur.
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