Saudi football fans claim they were attacked

(The Star) – Several Saudi Arabian football fans were attacked during the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Asian Zone Group A match at the Shah Alam Stadium Tuesday night.

The victims claimed they were attacked in the stands and outside the stadium.

The game was halted for crowd trouble in the 87th minute, with Saudi leading 2-1 at the time.

Some fans claimed they were attacked by several masked men armed with sticks.

Abdulrahman Himad, 23, from Yemen, injured his right ankle when he fell down while trying to evade the attackers.

“I did not expect this to happen. We came here to watch the game and this happened. I’m truly shocked. This is not Malaysia,” said the student who was seen limping.

Mohammed Abu Obayda, 26, said he was attacked by a few men in the stands, and he ran out of the stadium.

“Security said things were under control outside, but as we stepped out, a few men with sticks attacked us.

“We panicked and ran back into the stadium,” he said, adding that he was not injured.

The Saudi fans stayed back at a holding area in the stadium before they left on eight buses under police escort.