No home roar for Red Giants in FA Cup clash

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Selangor will play their FA Cup round of 16 second leg match against Sabah at home without any fans after multiple appeals to lift the ban were rejected. The team faces added difficulties as they also lose defender Safwan Baharudin due to suspension, complicating their effort to progress following a 2-2 first leg draw.

Selangor will be without the support of their fans when they host Sabah in the second leg of the FA Cup round of 16 at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium on Wednesday. The home team’s appeal to lift the sanction requiring them to play behind closed doors was denied, meaning the match will proceed without spectators.

The Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) Disciplinary Committee initially imposed the no-fan penalty on November 15, 2025, due to issues related to spectator behavior and match organization. This sanction was subsequently upheld by the FAM Appeals Committee on November 26. Seeking further recourse, Selangor filed a new appeal with the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC). However, the Emergency Sole Arbitrator rejected the club’s request on Monday, confirming that the restriction would remain in effect for the upcoming fixture.

In an official statement, FAM confirmed that the sanction requiring Selangor to play without supporters during their home match against Sabah on September 9, 2026, will continue to be enforced.

The absence of fans adds to Selangor’s challenges, as the team will also be missing defender Safwan Baharudin, who received a red card during the first leg in Kota Kinabalu, which ended in a 2-2 draw last Wednesday. The Reds Giants must now navigate both disciplinary and player availability hurdles in their bid to advance in the competition.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.