KARIM WINS ROUND ONE

The High Court here Friday allowed an application by former Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU) deputy president Datuk Karim Ibrahim to set aside his six-year suspension by the union last year.

Judge Datuk Zaleha Yusof, in her decision, ruled that based on the MAU constitution, Karim was not a member of the union.

"The disciplinary proceeding meted against him was a serious matter and in view that he is not a union member, MAU cannot take action against him," she added.

Last April 1, Karim, who is also the Melaka Athletics Association vice-president, filed an originating summons against MAU to challenge his six-year suspension by the Union.

In the originating summon, Karim had asked the court to decide if the MAU had the authority to order his suspension although he was not a MAU member during the said period in accordance with the MAU constitution that was amended on July 25, 2011.

Karim was suspended by the MAU for allegedly assisting six national athletes to snub a doping test by the National Sports Institute (ISN) in 2011.

The MAU which set up a panel headed by former Appeals Court judge Tan Sri V.C George to investigate the matter, had allegedly found Karim guilty of the offence.

Karim, who was represented by lawyer Didiana Zakaria, was at the court.

MAU was represented by lawyers Alex De Silva and Adlan Hadi Mohamad Yusof.

WHAT IF ASTRO PULLS THE PLUG

MANY Malaysians suffer from withdrawal symptoms when football takes a break from June till mid-August yearly.

Some go through pain some as if the spice of their life has gone missing. They struggle to look for something else to do, especially over the weekends. Most mamak eateries report a drop in customers as well.

Imagine this scenario being repeated each month and there is no football over television, week in and week out - no staying awake or getting up in the wee hours of the morning to watch football on weekdays.

Read all about it in www.mail.com.my on Monday

DOLLAH HEADS TO PDRM AND A HOST OF COACHING CHANGES IN M-LEAGUE

The two coaches of the Malaysia Cup finalists – Dollah Salleh and Bojan Hodak  are headed in different directions.

But one thing is certain, they will not be coaching Pahang and Kelantan respectively.

While Dollah is headed to the Royal Malaysian Police, Bojan is headed to Penang, not as their coach but moving his stuff to live there.

While the move by Dollah to a lower division is indeed surprising, given that he is also in the shortlist of coaches identified to take over the reins of the national team from K. Rajagobal,

“Currently I can safely say I will not be coaching in the M-League unless something changes in the next few days. My ongoing negotiation is with a club from Thailand,” said Bojan.

“At the same time I am trying to complete my pro-license with the Croation FA and have three more papers to complete. I want to use this break to do those papers.

“Really there is no rush to find a new coaching job as there are many things I need to consider before signing on the dotted line.”

Dollah’s move to PDRM has been speculated for quite sometime but it is his replacement, Alan Davidson that raised eyebrows.

Allan was a member of Pahang’s squad that won the double in 1992 and was speculated to sign as the Technical Director with Zainal Abidin Hassan coaching the side.

What makes things more interesting is T-Team’s reluctance to make a decision on just who will lead them as they have within their radar the likes of Azrai Khor, E.Elavarasan and Persib Bandung’s Dermawan.

While the Super League has been the centre of focus for many years, it is the Premier League that will boast of the who’s who of the coaching fraternity.

Felda United have signed up Irfan Bakti, Negri Sembilan has roped in V. Sundramoorthy, Kedah are looking at David Mitchell,  Penang are on the verge of signing K. Devan while Perlis are still hunting for a coach.

And the signing of new coaches is not limited to just the Premier League as there is plenty of movements in the Super League teams as well.

Newly crowned Malaysia Cup champions are said to be in talks with Alan Davidson with Selangor already having signed Mehmet Durokovic, Johor DT having confirmed Ceaser Fernando Jimnez.

Super League

Pahang – Alan Davidson

Kelantan – Steve Darby

ATM – B. Sathianathan

Johor Darul Takzim – Ceaser Fernando Jimnez

Selangor – Mehmet Durakovic

Terengganu – Abdul Rahman Ibrahim

PKNS FC – Wan Jamak Wan Hassan

Perak FA – Abu Bakar Fadzim

Sarawak – Robert Alberts

T-Team Azraai Khor/Dermawan/Elavarasen

Sime Darby – Ismail Zakaria

Premier League (Selected Teams)

Felda United – Irfan Bakti

Negri Sembilan – V. Sundramoorthy

Kedah – David Mitchels

Johor FA – Azmi Muhamad

PDRM – Dollah Salleh

PAHANG AND KELANTAN TO BE HIT FOR DAMAGES

Pahang and Kelantan may have to fork out a heavy price for the damages to the Shah Alam Stadium.

For the two teams will see a cut in their share of the gate collection once the Football association of Malaysia and the Shah Alam Stadium Board have completed assessing the damage done after Sunday’s cup final.

FAM Secretary General Dato Hamidin Mohd Amin said that once the damage is ascertained, the two teams would have to pay for it.

“We segregated the fans and hence we will assess the damages based on where their fans were seated,” said Hamidin.

“One thing we know for certain is that a gate was damaged and all other aspects are being jointly assessed by FAM and the Stadium authorities.”

Hamidin also clarified on the absence of the 5,000 seats buffer zone as raised by Mailsports.

“There was barbed wire separating the fans from both teams and there was also strong police presence,” clarified Hamidin.

“Thus we did away with the plan of the buffer zone so as to ensure more seats were made available.

“It is not a question of selling more seats but to be fair to fans as well. There are two sides to this argument and one has to understand our predicament as well.”

Hamidin admitted there were several shortcomings to several aspects, including the security on the pitch where scores of unauthorized people made their way to the track after the trophy presentation.

“These are matters we have already identified and will rectify in the future. Infact I already had one post mortem and the second one will be done once we view the recording of the final,” added Hamidin.

IS THIS FOR REAL FAM?

Is this what the Football Association of Malaysia can offer to the finalists and their sponsors? After collecting a cool RM40 million from sponsorship, just look at the backdrop and the table cloth. And the Vice President and Secretary General put up a poker face as if everything is fine. They could not even get a decent table, what more the arrangement is surely a blow to the thoughts of moving towards a professional league.