Former captain Safiq Rahim unhurt after latest attack on Malaysian footballers

The Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) midfielder is the third player to be attacked in a matter of days. Akhyar Rashid, on loan at Terengganu from JDT, was injured in a robbery outside his home last week. Selangor and Malaysia star forward Faisal Halim, also known as Mickey, was splashed with acid in a shopping mall outside the capital Kuala Lumpur at the weekend. He remains in a critical condition in hospital after suffering fourth-degree burns.

According to AFP, Rahim says he was threatened by two men on a motorbike after leaving training on Tuesday with one smashing his rear windscreen with a hammer. The 36-year-old posted a photo of the damage on his Instagram account as well as the statement he made to police.

In the post, Rahim wrote, "Didn't expect to be attacked near the JDT training centre. We need to be vigilant." He reported to police, "Two men on a motorcycle suddenly approached my car armed with a hammer and smashed my rear car windscreen. I stopped the car and I was in fear."

Reacting to this wave of attacks, Football Association of Malaysia president Hamidin Mohamad Amin has urged high-profile footballers to take greater personal safety precautions including even hiring bodyguards.