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Fans Criticised For Singapore Flag Disrespect At Bukit Jalil Stadium

Fans Criticised For Singapore Flag Disrespect At Bukit Jalil Stadium

Malaysian football fans sparked outrage by displaying Singapore’s flag upside down after their team’s elimination from the ASEAN Championship

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A group of football fans, believed to be Malaysia’s national team supporters, has drawn criticism for displaying Singapore’s flag upside down following Malaysia’s elimination from the ASEAN Championship.

The incident occurred after Singapore’s draw with Malaysia on 20 December at Bukit Jalil Stadium, which secured the Lions a spot in the semi-finals while eliminating Harimau Malaya from the tournament.

Photos circulating on social media platforms showed about 30 to 40 people posing with Singapore flags held upside down.

Some individuals made offensive gestures, and a Singapore banner was also displayed upside down.

The images have since gone viral across various social media platforms.

@sureboh.sg A photo showing football fans in Malaysia posing with upside-down Singapore flags and displaying offensive gestures has gone viral following the 0-0 draw between Malaysia and Singapore on December 20 at the Asean Football Championships. #surebohsg #sgtrending #sgnews #sgviral #football #malaysian #malaysiatik #malaysiaboleh ♬ original sound – Sure Boh

The Digital Backlash Begins

The incident has sparked strong reactions from netizens in both countries:

“Such disgrace and disrespect. Totally unacceptable,” wrote one social media user.

Another commented: “Any citizen that speaks negatively or acts this way doesn’t deserve to live in their own country. Never play with a country’s flag that way.”

However, some attendees of the match offered a more nuanced view:

One Redditor who claimed to be present at the game stated that the “huge majority of Malaysian fans are awesome.”

Malaysia exited the tournament after finishing third in the group stage, securing only one victory against Timor-Leste.

The Eternal Squabble

The relationship between these two nations has always been complicated, like siblings who moved out of their parent’s house but can’t stop competing over who’s more successful.

They argue about who makes better chicken rice, whose skyline is more impressive, and, in a particularly heated ongoing debate, who invented cendol.

The irony, of course, is that both nations’ football teams have historically struggled to make significant impacts beyond their regional comfort zone.

This latest chapter in the eternal Malaysia-Singapore rivalry shows that sometimes, the fiercest competitions aren’t played on the field.

Instead, they unfold in the complex psychology of two nations that can’t quite decide if they’re best friends or bitter rivals—or perhaps, most accurately, both.

Reports also emerged of hooliganism at an LRT station following the game, further tarnishing the reputation of Malaysian football fans and overshadowing what should have been a celebration of the sport.

Parts of this story have been sourced from Mothership.

READ MORE: “SG Is Better!” – Writer Claims Singapore Does Everything Better Than Malaysia Including FOOD!?

READ MORE: Someone In Singapore Put Up Jalur Gemilang Outside A HDB Flat – Did You Know This Is Illegal?


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