KUALA LUMPUR – The pitch at Bukit Jalil National Stadium can be seen tearing apart during tonight’s 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifier clash between Malaysia and Oman.
Bumpy field conditions have affected the gameplay of both sides, as players can be seen tumbling due to light challenges and tackles, especially on the flanks.
Defender Azam Azmi, who made his 11th appearance for Harimau Malaya, was forced to be substituted by Daniel Ting in the 24th minute, after he accidentally kicked the broken patch of the pitch following a challenge by Oman’s Jameel Al Yahmadi.
Netizens have taken social media by storm, with several posts shared on X (formerly Twitter) saying that the Bukit Jalil pitch is dangerous for footballers to play on.
“Pitches in other stadiums tear a bit, but in Bukit Jalil, the pitch tears a lot. This is very dangerous for the players who are playing,” @AzrielMohammad commented.
“Azam is now the first victim of this poor pitch condition,” said @SyaifulMohidin.
“It’s so frustrating to see the condition of the pitch; the ball is just bouncing everywhere,” posted @asywaklu.
“This is what we don’t want, and the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) should be responsible for this. The pitch is not ready, and it’s causing injuries to the players,” expressed another user, @ITS_BeanThrough.
“PSM is not smart enough (to know) how to take care of the pitch. As expected, the pitch is now causing injuries,” shared @unalif96.
Meanwhile, ground staff were seen patching the pitch with grass during halftime at the centre and the corners of the pitch.
A total of eight collisions and slip-ups occurred between the players from both Malaysia and Oman in the first half of the match.
Recently, a video went viral on social media showing the pitch at the stadium in poor condition after British pop star Ed Sheeran played a concert to a sold-out crowd of 50,000 at the national stadium last month.
However, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh denied the authenticity of the viral images.
Earlier, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general, Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, told Scoop that the national body was satisfied with the current condition of the pitch after several inspections over the past month.
“There are a few patches here and there around the pitch that need to be fixed, but it can be covered within the next two to four days,” said Azman.
On February 24, PSM released a statement stating that it was working with a foreign consultancy firm to ensure the field would be ready for the World Cup qualifier. – March 26, 2024