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Football: Chelsea accept Malaysia's Benayoun apology

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 10:43 PM PDT

HONG KONG - Chelsea have accepted an apology from the Football Association of Malaysia over anti-Semitic abuse that targeted Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun during a pre-season match.

The London club had lodged an official complaint after Benayoun was barracked during a game in Kuala Lumpur on July 21, the first leg of Chelsea's Asian tour.

Chelsea initially played down the incident but went ahead with its complaint after reviewing the game. The club, which has since played games in Bangkok and Hong Kong without incident, said it is now happy to move on.

"We appreciate the prompt attention the Malaysian FA has given our complaint," it said in a statement.

"Chelsea Football Club is committed to eradicating all discriminatory behaviour from the game, and urges the MFA to take appropriate steps to stamp out this type of behaviour in future.

"The club and Yossi accept the apology, and the matter is now closed." The Malaysian FA on Friday released a qualified apology to Chelsea and the player for conduct it said came from a small disruptive section of fans.

"The FA of Malaysia would like to strongly register that we do not condone any form of racism in football," it said.

"If such an incident did happen, we would like to apologise to the player concerned, and also to Chelsea FC." The midfielder was booed and jeered whenever he touched the ball in during the 1-0 win against a Malaysia XI in the capital.

Benayoun was the first Israeli to play in Malaysia, which strongly supports the Palestinians and does not recognise Israel, maintaining no diplomatic ties with the country. Some 60 percent of Malaysia's population is Muslim. - AFP

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Shahrizat sad ministry not able to help Ashraf

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 10:38 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR -- Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today that she was deeply saddened that her ministry was not able to provide counselling in time to Mohd Ashraf Abdul Aziz.

Mohd Ashraf Abdul Aziz, 25, who wanted to change his name to Aleesha Farhana and gender after undergoing a sex change operation in Thailand in 2009, died at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu at 5am today after having been admitted to the hospital''s intensive care unit on Thursday for heart problems and low blood pressure.

Shahrizat said her ministry from early on had offered to provide counselling to Mohd Ashraf but now fate had intervened.

"We were concerned about his wellbeing. My ministry is welfare oriented and we are non-judgemental.

"We try to understand and counsel anyone who needs our help, especially people who feel desperate like in the case of Ashraf, but for him, it is too late now," she told Bernama when met on arrival at Putra World Trade Centre here where the Wanita Umno chief was due to chair a meeting of the Umno wing's executive committee.

Shahrizat also extended her condolences to Mohd Ashraf's family and hoped they would remain strong in this difficult time.

"If the family needs any help they can contact me or the nearest Welfare Department office," she said.

Mohd Ashraf Hafiz, 25, had applied to the Kuala Terengganu High Court for an order to change his name and gender but it was rejected on July 18. -- Bernama

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Jumaat, 29 Julai 2011

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