KUALA LUMPUR, May 7, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A Malaysian national team footballer 
who was the victim of an acid attack is in a "critical but stable" condition 
Tuesday with fourth-degree burns that will require more surgery, a football 
official told AFP.

Faisal Halim suffered burns on the neck, shoulder, hands and chest in 
Petaling Jaya district outside the capital Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.

Nicknamed "Mickey", the 26-year-old plays on the right wing for Selangor 
Football Club and Malaysia.

"I am at the hospital. Faisal's condition is a bit critical but stable," 
Football Association of Selangor deputy president Shahril Mokhtar told AFP 
via a text message.

He said Faisal was initially diagnosed as having suffered second-degree 
burns, "but after he was moved to another hospital, a plastic surgeon 
classified the injuries as fourth-degree burns." 

Shahril said Faisal would undergo another surgery, adding that his movement 
and speech had been affected.

"We are shocked and disappointed that such an attack happened in Malaysia. My 
concern is also about the mental health of the other players since the new 
season begins on Friday," he said. 

CEO of Selangor Football Club Johan Kamal Hamidon said security has been 
heightened for the players, officials and staff of the club but he did not 
elaborate. 

Selangor state police chief Hussein Omar Khan told reporters that 
investigations over the motive for the attack continued and that two suspects 
had been arrested.

A photo that went viral online showed a visibly shocked and shirtless Faisal 
seated on a bench with burn marks on his upper body.

The acid attack came three days after another national team player, Akhyar 
Rashid, was injured in a robbery outside his home in the eastern state of 
Terengganu.

Kuala Terengganu police chief Azli Mohamad Noor said the incidents were 
unrelated. 

Football Association of Malaysia president Hamidin Mohamad Amin urged high-
profile footballers to take precautions about their personal safety, 
including hiring bodyguards.

"If you are a big player, you can consider what the overseas footballers are 
doing, which is to get a bodyguard," he was quoted as saying by The Star 
newspaper.