ISTAF Withdraws Disciplinary Charges Against Three Malaysian Reserve Players

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- The International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF) has decided to withdraw disciplinary charges against three Malaysian reserve players pertaining to Thailand's King's Cup last October. This was confirmed by ISTAF secretary-general Abdul Halim Kader, who is also the chairman of the federation's disciplinary committee, after its meeting here today. Also present was Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia president Ahmad Ismail. "The charges framed under Clause 15.3 of the ISTAF Sepak Takraw Rules 2013 have been withdrawn ," he told Bernama. However, he did not disclose the reasons for the withdrawal of the charges. The players concerned are Ahmad Aizat Mohd Nor Azmi, Mohd Khairol Zaman Hamir Akhbar and Aidil Aiman Azwawi. The trio were alleged to be no-shows in the second regu in the final against Thailand and leaving the championship. This resulted in Sepak Takraw of Thailand secretary-general Tanawat Prasongcharoen filing a complaint. Although the three escaped the charges, the fate of six other national players and three officials who were also involved in the walk-out remains uncertain. The six are Izurin Refin, Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali, Muhammad Safaruddin Abu Bakar, Sahidan Md Ali, Muhammad Ridauddin Abd Ghani and Muhammad Azwan Muhrim while the officials are team manager Mohd Zambri Abdul Rahman, coach Abdul Talib Ahmad and Mohd Rashidi Nordin. According Abdul Halim, the disciplinary panel would be making a decision on all of them on Thursday. --BERNAMA