`Ignorance' proves costly for Kelantan

DESPITE a three-month break, officials appointed by the FAM found theSultan Mahmud Stadium field in Kota Baru unmarked and grass uncut for theMalaysian Super League (MSL) match between KL Plus FC and Kelantan on Jan3. The FA of Malaysia competitions committee, which met at Wisma FAMyesterday, thus awarded the match to KL Plus 3-0. Yesterday's meeting waschaired by Datuk Che Mat Jusoh, and the competitions committeedeliberated long and hard on the report submitted by the refereesinspector and match commissioner before reaching their decision. "We went through the report and studied it before making the decision.It is important that states and clubs follow all the technical rules andregulations," said Che Mat. While FA of Malaysia only mentioned that the win was awarded based on atechnical default, it was learnt from reliable sources that the stadium'sfield was unmarked and the grass overgrown. "I am not here to reveal thefinding," added Che Mat. The Kelantan Amateur Football Association (KAFA) is expected to appealthe decision but it is unlikely that FAM will budge from its decision. With this `gifted' win KL Plus, newcomers to the MSL, are in thirdplace with six points. They edged Terengganu 2-1 on Tuesday at the KLFAStadium.