Felda United players Jaafar and Faudzi suspended for five matches

Felda United’s Mohd Hardi Jaafar and Mohd Firdaus Faudzi have been slapped with a RM5,000 fine each and suspended for five matches by the FA of Malaysia (FAM).

The duo were found guilty of climbing into the grandstand after the 1-0 defeat to Negri Sembilan in a Super League match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Jan 21 but were cleared of the second charge of attempting to fight with fans by FAM’s Disciplinary Committee.

Hardi, who was given a final warning for his action, said he accepts the committee’s decision.

“I am glad I did not get a heavier sanction,” said Hardi, after the committee meeting at Wisma FAM yesterday.

“I will continue to train with the team during the suspension.”

The suspensions begin on March 6, leaving the duo out of their Super League match against Singapore Lions XII. Felda United also will have to foot the bill for the committee meeting which totalled RM2,287 after their players were found guilty.

This is Hardi’s second offence. In 2010, Hardi, who was playing for Selangor, was suspended for six matches and fined RM6,000 following several incidents in the semi-final of the FA Cup match against Negri on April 3, 2010.

In the ill-tempered match between Negri and Felda United on Jan 21, referee Azman Jamaludin flashed two red cards during the game and a third after the final whistle.

Azman also handed out eight yellow cards (four per team) and red-carded Felda United’s Farid Ramli and Negri’s S. Kunalan during the game and Hardi after the game.

A fracas broke out as the players clashed after the match and the Negri supporters jeered and threw water bottles at the Felda team as they headed to the changing room.

One bottle hit Felda goalkeeper Mohd Hamsani Ahmad’s face, prompting Hardi and Firdaus to climb into the grandstand to confront the fans.

Hardi said that the slack security at the stadium was to be blamed for the incident.

“Negri had won the match so I don’t know why their supporters provoked us,” said Hardi.

“I think if the security was better this incident would have not happened. It has taught me a lesson and I hope the other involved parties will also learn from it.”

Meanwhile, Felda United assistant manager Faisal Zakaria said they will file a complaint to FAM’s Competition Committee on the poor security at the stadium.