KELANTAN at last had their wish to return to their home ground granted when the FA of Malaysia (FAM) lifted a season-long ban on the Sultan Mohamad IV Stadium in Kota Baru yesterday.
FAM's competitions committee endorsed the recommendation by the disciplinary board (DB) to revoke the suspension, which had Kelantan FA (Kafa) teetering on the verge of financial collapse, and allow them to continue playing after veiled threats of withdrawing from the Super League.
However, FAM said in a statement that Kelantan would first have to fulfil certain obligations before their next home match against UPB FC-MyTeam on June 16.
Kafa president Tan Sri Annuar Musa, in expressing his gratitude to FAM, believes the stadium will be ready with beefed up security measures.
"In a way this decision has come as a pleasant surprise to us as we only sent in our second appeal letter on Monday.
"I'm happy with the decision and I am quite grateful to FAM and the media, which I think helped shape public opinion and ensured the DB looked at the bigger picture," said Annuar yesterday.
The ban, which was imposed due to an outbreak of violence outside the stadium after the FA Cup semi-final first leg between Kelantan and Negri Sembilan on Apr 7, is the second time FAM has reversed itself in a case involving Kelantan.
FAM last month also cancelled its decision to award three points to KL Plus for the washed out opening Super League fixture against Kelantan in Kota Baru after finding the Sultan Mohamed IV Stadium pitch unsuitable for play.
Kelantan went on to win the re-scheduled fixture 1-0 at the National Stadium, their first win at their temporary home venue, last Tuesday.
That win ended a five-match losing run in the Super League and Annuar hopes the return to Kota Baru will mark an up tick in their fortunes on the pitch.
"I hope this will spur the team on to play their best and I think it will have a positive effect on them. But the fans must learn from this because if their attitudes don't change, they are indirectly killing football in the state," said Annuar.
On the extra security measures, Annuar added: "We are working together with the stadium board to improve certain security aspects.
"We have built a tunnel leading from the dressing room to the pitch at a cost of RM30,000. We have also put up security fencing at the entrance and moved counter tickets away from the grandstand area to ease the burden on the security personnel.
"We have also asked the supporters clubs to play their role and we're looking at other aspects of the security measures."
The stadium ban has cost Kelantan nearly a million ringgit in lost revenue and extra costs which led Annuar to consider pulling the team out of the league.
"We were heading towards disaster because of the ban as on average we lost RM150,000 on the four matches we had to play away.
"If you add the cost of transport and accommodation it adds up to quite a bit. The improvements on the stadium also costs money although I believe we will be reimbursed for that. Hopefully we can make up for the losses," said Annuar, referring to the team's remaining five home games in the league.
Kelantan fans will be given a treat as Kafa plan to mark the re-opening of the stadium with a friendly against Premier League side Proton on June 5 and another against FA Cup champions Selangor on June 9. Entry is free for both matches
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