Faisal Halim: Malaysian soccer star is in “critical but stable condition” after acid attack, officials say

CNN
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A star player from the Malaysian soccer team is in “critical but stable condition” after an acid attack in which he suffered fourth-degree burns, officials said late Tuesday.

Malaysian football officials said Faisal Halim’s movement and speech were affected and he would require further surgery.

On May 5, the 26-year-old was sprayed with concentrated sulfuric acid outside a shopping center outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian police reported.

Halim, who plays as a forward for Selangor Football Club and the Malaysian national team, was taken to a nearby private hospital in the capital while still conscious. He suffered severe burns to his face, neck, shoulders, hands and chest, officials added.

Specialist doctors concluded on Tuesday that Halim had suffered fourth-degree burns and not second-degree burns as previously thought, Selangor Football Association officials said.

“According to the doctors, Faisal will now undergo at least two more surgeries. Currently, he is still in intensive care and is being closely monitored by specialists,” the association’s deputy president Shahril Mokhtar told national news agency Bernama, adding that Halim’s movement and speech had been affected by the attack.

“The left side of his body and arm are severely affected, affecting his movements,” Mokhtar said. “It’s pretty bad, he can’t feel his left arm properly and couldn’t communicate clearly after the operation. He feels stiff and cannot speak well.”

Fourth-degree burns are the most severe classification when the injury penetrates the skin and underlying tissue, as well as deeper tissue down to the bone.

Photos of Halim after the attack spread widely online, leaving many shocked. He was seen sitting, covered with a towel, looking stunned – surrounded by police and paramedics. Large areas of skin had also peeled off on the sides of his arms and torso.

It is the second violent attack on a Malaysian football player this month. Last week, another international player, 25-year-old Akhyar Rashid, was attacked by armed robbers after returning from a training session at his condo in downtown Kuala Lumpur and suffered a 4cm (1.5-inch) cut on his forehead. according to police.

Reports of acid attacks are rare in Malaysia. The motive behind the attack is still unknown, Malaysian police said, adding that investigations are ongoing. Two men – one in his late 30s, the other in his late 20s – were arrested in connection with the attack on Halim, police added.

CNN has reached out to multiple authorities, including the Malaysian Football Association, the country’s national governing body, for additional comment on Halim’s condition and additional security measures for international players following the incident.

Malaysian politicians, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, expressed concerns about the attack. Anwar, who visited Halim in hospital, condemned the attack and said he wished the player a speedy recovery and “a return to football”.

Halim made his debut for the Malaysian national team in 2019. He has since helped the team qualify for major regional tournaments, including the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar – where he scored in an unlikely draw against giants South Korea. He also scored the winning goal in a World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan at the end of last year.

Selangor finished second in the Malaysia Super League last season. The new season starts this month.