GEORGE TOWN – Police arrested 20 more suspects in relation to the football-related brawl between supporters of Kedah and Penang on Tuesday night.
Northeast district police head Soffian Santong said the 20 were picked up from their homes in Kedah and Penang in stages yesterday and they will be remanded for two days.
Another seven remained under police custody after what is believed to be the biggest physical row between supporters of two northern neighbours.
Soffian said they will not compromise on such brawls, and they will go after the perpetrators and send a strong deterrent message to football fans here.
The brawl outside the stadium was sparked after a heated match between Kedah and Penang in the Malaysian Super League match at City Stadium along Perak Road here.
The match ended with Kedah edging Penang 2-1 with a last-minute goal. – The Vibes, August 24, 2023
Before the winning goal, Penang's defender Muhammad Adib Abdul Ra’op was shown a red card in the 76th minute for fouling Manuel Hidalgo, while the final blow was dealt when Nigerian midfielder Moses Atede scored the winner in extra time (90+5).
This had irked the home supporters before the clash occurred later in the night.
Penang FA chief executive officer Jeffrey Chew said that the clashes between Kedah and Penang in the northern derby are often tense.
“There is a simmering rivalry between both states. No, it was not a fight about water, but a misunderstanding over the ending of the match," he said in an interview.
Chew said that the match was headed to a draw up to the final minutes when Kedah scored.
“This led to a highly tense situation, which was already boiling during the match. All it needed was for someone to pass an insult for the scuffle to occur.”
Chew hopes that it is just an isolated incident, and police can tackle football hooliganism at its root to prevent future untoward incidents. – The Vibes, August 24, 2023
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