Misfortune: Akhyar Rashid (left) and Faisal Halim went through some harrowing experiences this past week.
PETALING JAYA: National winger Faisal Halim’s extent of injury is not as mild as initially thought.
Faisal, who is a victim of an acid attack on Sunday, underwent a four-hour surgery the same night to treat his fourth degree burns.
Initially, he was said to be treated for second degree burns following the traumatic acid attack at a shopping mall in Kota Damansara.
Yesterday, Selangor Football Association deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said Faisal would undergo a second surgery and there could be more to treat the wounds inflicted by the acid.
“We met him at the first hospital after his first dressing. He could talk and communicate, in a soft and low tone,” he said.
“Then the club transferred him to their panel hospital and that’s when they said he needed to be operated on due to his skin condition.
“At about noon on Monday, we were told it’s not second degree, It is fourth degree. It’s quite bad. He can’t feel his left arm.
“He is stable but not in good condition. There will be a second surgery or even more. He’s feeling stiff, unable to talk well after the surgery and he will be in the Intensive Care Unit for 10 days.”
Shahril added that Faisal will need to be at the hospital for at least three to four weeks.
The top goal scorer for the nation, who is also known as Mickey, will miss the Charity Shield match between Selangor and Johor Darul Ta’zim next week and is unlikely to play for the country against Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan in Group D of the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
Meanwhile, security for the national football team will be beefed up after the attacks on two star players in the past week.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has already spoken to the management of the team to improve security for the next national call-up on May 27.
The attack on Faisal was the second in just days after Akhyar Rashid was robbed and assaulted in Kuala Terengganu on May 2.
The serious incidents have raised alarm bells over players’ safety, especially those being a key part of their respective clubs and the national team.
“It was sudden and upsetting to see what happened to Mickey and Akhyar,” said Hamidin.
“My advice to players now, if you are out on an outing, you have to take extra precaution because two separate incidents in one week is indeed a concern. I have told our national team to be more alert and enhance the security of our boys.”
Hamidin even suggested that players should consider hiring a bodyguard if they can afford it.
“If you are a big player, you can consider what the overseas footballers are doing, which is to get a bodyguard. They can do so if they have the means. That is my view.”
A suspect has been detained over the Faisal case, with the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirming that he has been remanded for two days.
He urged the public to allow the police to investigate and uncover the motive behind the incident.
Razarudin also said the police cannot confirm whether the attack on Faisal has anything to do with the attack on Akhyar.
He further denied the attacks on both footballers was connected to football bookies.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports minister Hannah Yeoh said Faisal’s physical well-being should be the utmost priority.
“We will let the doctors tend to him and then we will see the report. After that, we will plan the next step for him, whether to get the National Sports Institute (NSI) to step in with his rehabilitation and recovery.”
