THE Selangor football team being barred from using Shah Alam Stadium is an issue that has dragged on for so long that it has turned political.

The two sides at loggerheads with each other represent parties on either side of the political divide, with the Football Association of Selangor (FAS) being represented by Barisan Nasional leaders.

Even Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Razak has entered the arena, saying on Sunday that if the state returns to the ruling coalition in the 14th general election, he would open the stadium gates to the Red Giants once more.

Selangor, which have won the Malaysia Cup 33 times, are squatting at the Cheras football stadium for the 2018 season after not getting permission to use Shah Alam Stadium as their home ground.

Shah Alam Stadium has been the team’s home turf since it opened in 1994 after the Red Giants left Merdeka Stadium, which they had called home for 40 years.

So, how did the crisis begin and escalate, leading to Najib’s promise?

How it started

The PKR-led Selangor government and FAS have pointed fingers at each other as being the party responsible for the problem.

State exco Amirudin Shari said the crisis was triggered when FAS disrespected Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah by not releasing several players and boycotting the state’s selection in the Sultan’s Cup last year.

But FAS, on the other hand, said the issue erupted when Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali sacked coach Zainal Abidin and replaced him with K. Gunalan after a disappointing run in the Malaysian League.

The decision was made without consulting FAS, said vice-president Abdul Rauf Ahmad.

FAS secretary-general Rosman Mohd Ibrahim and treasurer S. Sivasundram offered to resign, and have gone on leave since August 8, 2016.

In a FAS exco meeting on August 29, 2016, 15 out of 19 members urged then association president Azmin to explain Rosman and Sivasundram’s resignation offer.

The meeting was interrupted when a majority of excos, led by Subahan Kamal, exited – a move that Amirudin labelled as “rude behaviour”.

Rauf said the state government stopped funding FAS, banned the use of the stadium and did not provide the team with training grounds.

Selangor government’s attitude

Amirudin said the allegations hurled at the state government were political in nature and meant to serve as a distraction from FAS’ own management problems.

“FAS and certain individuals that want to play politics should not manipulate supporter sentiment and spread misinformation (relating to) the Selangor government,” he said in a statement dated January 24.

In December 2016, FAS president Subahan announced that Selangor had been given permission to use Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

He said the permission was given by the Malaysian Stadium Board, pending approval by the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP), a company that handles the privatisation of Malaysian football leagues.

A month later, Football Association of Malaysia president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said Selangor could not use the stadium, as it was already packed with events year-round.

“The stadium management and FMLLP have worked together to study this, but it is impossible to give an assurance that the stadium is free all year long,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

Amirudin said Selangor fans were disappointed by this, and questioned the decision.

The reactions

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it was not fair for the Selangor government to disallow the Red Giants from playing on home ground in the Super League this season.

“I am not sure what’s the reason given by the Selangor government, but for me, the reason is not valid.”

The Selangor Supporters action group wants the state government and FAS to negotiate and reach a solution.

It said the Shah Alam Stadium issue had seen them being used as “political donkeys” ahead of GE14.

FAS’ solution

After being made FAS president, Subaham submitted an application to the Shah Alam Municipal Council (MBSA) to rent the stadium for the Selangor team.

Checks on the MBSA site showed that rental was RM8,000, or 15% of ticket sales, whichever was higher.

The application, however, was not approved by MBSA.

The state government has denied being involved in the council’s decision.

FAS, meanwhile, hopes to build its own stadium five years from now.

Will issue lead to vote swing?

Najib’s promise to Selangor fans is set to be a carrot much dangled in BN’s GE14 campaign.

FAS believes that this will impact the way football fans in the state vote in the general election.

“We are neutral… but the majority of fans we know want to change (the government), but I said voting is your personal right,” said Rauf.

Fans have been going around in a bid to collect 15,000 signatures for the Red Giants to return home to Shah Alam Stadium.

Meanwhile, political analysts said the issue was a small one, compared with the rising cost of living, goods and services tax, fuel price hikes and 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

“The effects of these (economic) issues have a much bigger impact compared with the football stadium issue, which affects only a small number of fans,” said Universiti Malaya’s Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

“The stadium issue should be resolved via negotiations and compromise.”

Questions left unanswered

Why is the Selangor team not permitted to use Shah Alam Stadium for the 2018 season, when the go-ahead was given by MBSA to PKNS FC and Felcra teams?

“We want to know why the Selangor government does not want to allow the Red Giants to use Shah Alam Stadium,” said Selangor Supporters spokesman Mohd Firdaus Abdul Mutalib.

On Najib’s vow to bring the Red Giants home, Firdaus said: “We appreciate help, but not when people try to play ‘political football’ at our expense.” – February 13, 2018.