KUALA TERENGGANU: Booted Terengganu stars Muslim Ahmad and Ismail Faruqi Asha’ri denied strongly allegations they broke a team curfew and brought girls back to their hotel room on the day of their Malaysia Cup match against Kedah in Alor Setar on Tuesday.

Terengganu lost the match 2-1.

It was reported yesterday that coach Peter Butler said both the players will never play for him again after breaking team rules.

According to Ismail Faruqi, he plans to take legal action against the two newspapers who published the news.

"We are now frowned upon by the society, and I had to contact a lawyer to discuss the legal action to be taken to clear my name," he told Harian Metro.

Ismail Faruqi, an influential figure in the team and recently got married, said Butler was nowhere near his room at the time the incident allegedly took place.

"We were said to have brought girls in at 3 am, but Butler was not there at the time and he certainly got the information from a third party.”

"The hotel had closed circuit television (CCTV) and if they examine the tape, the truth will prevail," said Ismail Faruqi.

Muslim, 23, said he came back to the room quite late at night but he was not accompanied by a girl.

“I did go out late but that was only to buy some Panadol (aspirin) for Ismail who was having a fever,” he said.

"Such news affects my image as I am still single and I do not know what effect it will have on Ismail, who had just got married."

Both the players now want the matter corrected and those involved in making the allegations to apologize to them.

- mD

 

← Roddick To Retire After US Open		Hell For Devils →