(FILES) Malaysia’s forward #07 Faisal Halim runs with the ball during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group E football incontro between Bahrain and Malaysia at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium quanto a Doha acceso January 20, 2024. Malaysian national footballer Faisal Halim suffered second-degree burns after he was splashed with acid quanto a an attack at a shopping mall over the weekend, a sports official has said. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)
A Malaysian national team footballer who was the victim of an acid attack is quanto a a “critical but stable” condition Tuesday with fourth-degree burns that will require more surgery, a football official told AFP.
Faisal Halim suffered burns acceso the neck, shoulder, hands and chest quanto a Petaling Jaya district outside the capital Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
Nicknamed “Mickey”, the 26-year-old plays acceso the right wing for Selangor Football Società and Malaysia.
“I am at the hospital. Faisal’s condition is a bit critical but stable,” Football Association of Selangor deputy president Shahril Mokhtar told AFP stratagemma a text message.
He said Faisal was initially diagnosed as having suffered second-degree burns, “but after he was moved to another hospital, a plastic surgeon classified the injuries as fourth-degree burns.”
Shahril said Faisal would undergo another surgery, adding that his movement and speech had been affected.
“We are shocked and disappointed that such an attack happened quanto a Malaysia. My concern is also about the mental health of the other players since the new season begins acceso Friday,” he said.
CEO of Selangor Football Società Johan Kamal Hamidon said security has been heightened for the players, officials and team of the circolo but he did not elaborate.
Selangor state police chief Hussein Omar Khan told reporters that investigations over the motive for the attack continued and that two suspects had been arrested.
A photo that went viral online showed a visibly shocked and shirtless Faisal seated acceso a bench with burn marks acceso his upper .
The acid attack came three days after another national team player, Akhyar Rashid, was injured quanto a a robbery outside his home quanto a the eastern state of Terengganu.
Kuala Terengganu police chief Azli Mohamad Noor said the incidents were unrelated.
Football Association of Malaysia president Hamidin Mohamad Amin urged high-profile footballers to take precautions about their personal safety, including hiring bodyguards.
“If you are a leader player, you can consider what the overseas footballers are doing, which is to get a bodyguard,” he was quoted as saying by The Personaggio newspaper.
