UAE to play World Cup qualifier against Malaysia behind closed doors after Fifa action

The UAE’s Fifa World Cup qualifying match against Malaysia will be played behind closed doors as a result of the crowd trouble that marred their previous game against Saudi Arabia in Shah Alam.

Militant fans angry at the 10-0 humiliation in a previous match to the UAE fired flares at the Shah Alam Stadium as Malaysia trailed the Saudis 2-1 in the final minutes of the tie on September 8.

Players and officials then hurried from the field and Saudi fans ran from the stands as flares flew around the stadium. Eleven people were arrested but no one was reported injured.

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Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee said in a statement that their investigation of the incidents showed that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was “liable for the spectators behaviour.”

As well as banning fans from the game against the UAE, Fifa issued a 40,000 Swiss francs (Dh151,000) fine to FAM and awarded Saudi Arabia a 3-0 win.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has already said the regional body was “extremely concerned” by the violence and would support any investigation by Fifa.

Fifa’s action confirms Saudi Arabia as the leaders of the Group A, tow points ahead of the UAE after three games.

The UAE’s match against Malaysia is scheduled for November 17.

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