Malaysian football star in ‘critical but stable condition’ after acid attack, as country’s footballers are put on alert amid series of attacks

A star player for the Malaysian national football team has been left in a “critical but stable condition” with fourth-degree burns after an acid attack.

Officials said Faisal Halim would require surgery, adding that his movements and speech were affected.

His is one of three attacks in a week on some of Malaysia’s top footballers, with the sports stars urged by their football associations to hire bodyguards.

Local police said Halim, 26, was splashed with concentrated sulfuric acid outside a shopping center outside the capital Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, causing severe burns to his face, neck, shoulders, hands and chest.

Still conscious, the Selangor FC striker – who scored 14 goals in 29 appearances for his country – was taken to a nearby private hospital where he remains.

Halim’s attack was one of three targeting high-profile Malaysian footballers in the space of a week, prompting the country’s FA to urge stars to seek better protection. Their national team is pictured at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, with Halim at number seven

‘Faisal will now undergo at least two more operations, as determined by the doctors. He is currently still in intensive care and is being closely monitored by specialists,” Selangor Football Association vice-president Shahril Mokhtar told national news outlet Bernama.

‘The left side of his body and arm are severely affected, affecting his freedom of movement. It’s quite bad, he can’t really feel his left arm and couldn’t communicate clearly after the surgery. He feels stiff and can’t talk properly.’

Fourth-degree burns are the most severe burns that affect all layers of the skin, muscles, tendons and bones.

Police have said the motive for the attack remains unknown, although they added that two men – one in his late 30s and one in his 20s – were arrested in connection with the incident.

The Malaysian Football Association today posted on social media urging fans to rally behind ‘our hero Faisal’ – known to fans as ‘Mickey’.

The acid attack near Malaysia’s capital came just three days after Halim’s national teammate, Akhyar Rashid, 25, was attacked by armed robbers at his home in central Kuala Lumpur after returning from training.

Rashid, who has played 45 times for his country and scored 10 times, suffered a four-centimeter cut on his forehead, according to police.

Local police chief Azli Mohamad Noor said the incidents were unrelated.

On Tuesday evening, former Malaysia captain Safiq Rahim became the third major player in seven days to fall victim to a violent attack.

After training at his club Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), the 36-year-old midfielder was threatened with a hammer and the windshield of his car was smashed.

He said on Instagram: “I didn’t expect to be attacked near the JDT training center. We have to be vigilant.’

Rahim also shared a copy of the police report which said: ‘Two men on a motorcycle suddenly approached my car, armed with a hammer, and smashed the windshield of my rear car. I stopped the car and I was scared.”

Former Malaysia captain Safiq Rahim (seen during a friendly against Arsenal in 2011) was threatened with a hammer and had his car windshield smashed after training with his club Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT)

JDT is run by the Crown Prince of the Johor Royal Family and CEO Alistair Edwards said in a statement on the team’s Facebook page: “The incident, along with the recent attacks on Akhyar Rashid and Faisal Halim, has no place in football .’

The club said it has also advised players to be careful of their surroundings and what they post on social media.

The series of attacks at such close range prompted Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) chairman Hamidin Mohamad Amin to encourage high-profile footballers to take precautions regarding their personal safety.

“If you are a big player, you can consider what the foreign footballers do, which is to get a bodyguard,” he said in the interview. The star.

Selangor Football Club CEO Johan Kamal Hamidon said security for players, officials and club staff has been increased, but did not elaborate.