The Sarawak Football Association (FAS) President, Datu Sudarsono has called fans to produce the massive Sarawak flag during every game.
According to Facebook site Crocs News Update, the FAS president said the flag was the “fans signatures of their passion toward our football team, and our pride”. He also said that he felt Sarawak had the biggest number of football followers in the nation based on his observation of the attendance of Sarawak fans during both home and away matches.
Sudarsono was also reported to be very pleased with the high number of attendance at the stadium, but pleaded that fans follow to the stadium rules to avoid Sarawak from being fined.
The newly elected Vice-President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) added that Sarawak has been paying hefty fines to FAM since 2012.
Sudarsono and co. is believed to be working hard to clamp down on ‘illegal’ activities by fans in the stadium which has caused FAS to lose out on its gate receipt since 2012. Reports on flares played by Sarawak fans have also made headlines in local media, which is believed to be a move by FAS to so call ‘educate’ the public of the negativity of flares burning.
Rumours have also surfaced that the players are not allowed to do their traditional ‘lap of honour’ due to flares being played, while fans have constantly complained that the recent hefty ticket prices do not reflect the current amenities prepared to them during the games.
Despite that however, fans continue to come in their masses to Sarawak games, with flares played after every home game without restriction.
With that said, it is getting very interesting how both FAS and local supporter groups would negotiate the issues (flares), as it is not a secret that the massive Sarawak flag was the product of the same group playing flares after every home game.
