The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will obtain a full report from the Melaka Football Association and match organisers following the death of a player believed to have been struck by lightning during a friendly match in Melaka yesterday.
FAM Secretary-General Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said the report is needed to review the sequence of events and the actions taken, as well as to identify areas for improvement in match safety management.
“On behalf of FAM, I extend my condolences to the family of the player who died in an incident believed to have been caused by a lightning strike during a friendly match between Rembau Indian Veteran FC and Tanjung Minyak FC at the Rakan Muda Lendu Complex Field in Melaka on Sunday,” he said in a statement.
“FAM takes this very seriously and hopes all parties will allow authorities to conduct a full investigation to determine the actual cause of the incident.”
Noor Azman said the tragedy serves as a reminder to the football community that safety must always be the top priority.
He urged all state football associations, clubs, academies, and match organisers to closely monitor weather conditions before and during matches.
At the same time, he said FAM encourages organisers to consider installing Lightning Detection Systems at competition venues.
“The system is capable of detecting lightning activity in real time and providing early warnings to match officials to make safety-related decisions.
“Its use is already common in various tournaments and professional leagues as part of risk management procedures,” he said.
He added that postponing or stopping matches for safety reasons should not be seen as a weakness in competition management, but rather a responsible decision.
