In a sport meant to bring people together, football continues to grapple with an unfortunate reality: racial abuse.
This issue doesn’t just disrupt the game’s spirit but leaves players and fans questioning the inclusivity of a sport they love.
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S’wak footballer slams racist comment made about him online
Perak FC wingback Tommy Mawat Bada recently confronted this issue firsthand, receiving a racist comment on social media following a heated on-field clash with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player Arif Aiman Hanapi.
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Following the incident, Tommy expressed his disappointment over the racial slur, which targeted his Dayak heritage. In an Instagram Story posted on Monday, 11 November, the Sarawak-born footballer clarified that while he accepts criticism, racial remarks have no place in sports.
One comment, which read, “Serves that Dayak right for blocking others. After all, he lost even at home”, struck a nerve for Tommy.
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‘Don’t keep throwing ‘Dayak’ at me‘
Addressing this, he shared a heartfelt message urging fans to avoid racial comments:
“Everyone is free to speak. You can be angry, give criticism, even use harsh words. We’re all just human living on the same earth. But if you’re angry, don’t bring my family or ethnicity (Dayak) into it. Yes, I was born Dayak and proud of it to this day.
“So, brothers and sisters, et’s not make this a racial issue. You’ll regret it later. Don’t keep throwing ‘Dayak’ at me. Think about how other Dayaks might feel if they see and read your comment. Can you handle them?”
“Don’t be a clown and a racist. God bless you, thank you. Don’t spread hate in football.”
Match tensions lead to on-field clash and yellow cards
The altercation that sparked these reactions occurred during the Malaysian Super League match on Sunday, 10 November, where JDT winger Arif Aiman Hanapi was seen punching Tommy in the 83rd minute.
Tommy retaliated by hitting Arif’s back and briefly choking him before teammates and the referee stepped in. Both players received yellow cards for the confrontation.
However, former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary committee chairman Kamarudin Abdullah told Berita Harian that Arif should have received a red card for his actions.
‘Stop Using Dayak As An Insult’ – S’wak Footballer Slams Racist Comment Made About Him Online
In a sport meant to bring people together, football continues to grapple with an unfortunate reality: racial abuse.
This issue doesn’t just disrupt the game’s spirit but leaves players and fans questioning the inclusivity of a sport they love.
S’wak footballer slams racist comment made about him online
Perak FC wingback Tommy Mawat Bada recently confronted this issue firsthand, receiving a racist comment on social media following a heated on-field clash with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player Arif Aiman Hanapi.
Following the incident, Tommy expressed his disappointment over the racial slur, which targeted his Dayak heritage. In an Instagram Story posted on Monday, 11 November, the Sarawak-born footballer clarified that while he accepts criticism, racial remarks have no place in sports.
One comment, which read, “Serves that Dayak right for blocking others. After all, he lost even at home”, struck a nerve for Tommy.
‘Don’t keep throwing ‘Dayak’ at me‘
Addressing this, he shared a heartfelt message urging fans to avoid racial comments:
“Everyone is free to speak. You can be angry, give criticism, even use harsh words. We’re all just human living on the same earth. But if you’re angry, don’t bring my family or ethnicity (Dayak) into it. Yes, I was born Dayak and proud of it to this day.
“So, brothers and sisters, et’s not make this a racial issue. You’ll regret it later. Don’t keep throwing ‘Dayak’ at me. Think about how other Dayaks might feel if they see and read your comment. Can you handle them?”
Match tensions lead to on-field clash and yellow cards
The altercation that sparked these reactions occurred during the Malaysian Super League match on Sunday, 10 November, where JDT winger Arif Aiman Hanapi was seen punching Tommy in the 83rd minute.
Tommy retaliated by hitting Arif’s back and briefly choking him before teammates and the referee stepped in. Both players received yellow cards for the confrontation.
However, former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary committee chairman Kamarudin Abdullah told Berita Harian that Arif should have received a red card for his actions.
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