August 28, 2017 @ 7:35pm
BEATRICE NITA JAY, FALIQ LAJIM and IZZUDIN AZNAN news@nst.com.my
SHAH ALAM: Tempers ran high at the Shah Alam Stadium as angry fans went out of control after failing to secure tickets for the 29th Sea Games Kuala Lumpur 2017 men’s football final between Malaysia and Thailand.
After spending much time in snaking queues and overcome by exhaustion, the patience of the supporters ran low and the situation descended into chaos just after mid-afternoon today when one of two ticket counters closed abruptly at the stadium.
Tickets for Malaysian supporters were sold at the stadium here while tickets for Thailand supporters were sold at the Melawati Stadium with each person entitled for five tickets only. There are no online sales for the 45,000 tickets which are priced at RM21.20 each.
In videos making its round on social media, groups of supporters were seen ramming the barricades in anger, shouting 'Buka!Buka!' (Open!Open!).
Shah Alam district police chief Assistant Commissioner Shafien Mamat said the Federal Reserve Unit, the Shah Alam district police headquarters' Light Strike Force and a team of 45 policemen were brought in to disperse the crowd involved in the chaos.
"Pushing and shoving had led to the incident. After that we agreed to assist the Youth and Sports Ministry to monitor the situation while the balance of 10,000 tickets are being sold. It is now under control and we have asked the organiser to make an announcement when there are no more tickets to avoid any more disturbances," he told reporters at the stadium earlier.
Shafien added that police's strength will be added at the stadium tomorrow and they will be assisted by the FRU, K9 Unit, mounted police as well as the Criminal Investigation Department personnel.
Ticket sales began at 11am and local fans flocked the counters as early as 10pm last night.
A supporter, Muhammad Ridzuan Mohammad, said he was upset that the counter had closed when it came to his turn.
The 27-year-old said he had travelled from Taiping in the early hours to buy the tickets.
"I kept my hopes high to get the tickets but the counter abruptly closed when it was my turn. There should have been been an online sales of these tickets," said Muhammad Ridzuan.
Muhammad Ridzuan had witnessed the chaos which was put to a stop and controlled by the authorities at the scene.
"There was a ruckus but it would not have happened if this matter was planned properly," he added.
Another supporter, Muhammad Saiful Amin Nizam, said he had been at the stadium from 8am and was not able to buy tickets as it had ran out.
"I have been waiting for more than 10 hours and I am certainly not going home empty handed. I will wait to see if there are any more tickets. A match like this is once in a lifetime and I do not want to miss it. If I have to sleep here tonight, I will. I want to show my full support to Malaysia," he said.
In Alor Star, Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said tighter security measures will be taken and urged fans of both teams to abide the rules and regulations set.
He said this was ensure public safety during and after the match.
“Some people complained they had to stand in long queues to enter the stadium but we need to conduct thorough inspection for their own safety,” he said in a press conference during his working visit to Kedah Police contingent headquarters today.
He also urged football fans to come early to the stadium tonight.
Malaysia made its way to the final by defeating Indonesia 1-0 in the semi-finals on Saturday night while Thailand advanced after beating Myanmar 1-0.
