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Footballer Faisal Halim Regains Mobility Following Acid Attack by Fans at Mall

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVMay 10, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 26: Mohamad Faisal Halim of Malaysia passes the ball during the FIFA World Cup Asian 2nd qualifier Group D match between Malaysia and Oman at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on March 26, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by How Foo Yeen/Getty Images)
How Foo Yeen/Getty Images

Malaysian soccer player Faisal Halim is making significant progress in his recovery after getting doused with acid on Sunday.

According to Malaysian national news agency Bernama (h/t Reuters), Selangor football association deputy president Shahril Mokhtar released a positive update on Halim, saying: "I heard this morning he started walking in the room and went to the bathroom by himself. That's a positive development. He wants to go home."

Someone attacked Halim with acid at a shopping mall Sunday, leaving him with fourth-degree burns and impacting both his mobility and his speech.

Halim underwent a three-hour skin allograft surgery Thursday, and while he is still scheduled for another surgery, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Per Reuters (h/t ESPN), Halim was one of multiple Malaysian soccer players to be targeted in attacks recently.

Last week, Akhyar Rashid was injured while getting robbed outside his home, and Safiq Rahim had the windshield of his vehicle broken on Tuesday.

As a result, the Football Association of Malaysia recommended that players and teams hire extra security.

Selangor FC had been set to open its season with a Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta'zim on Friday, but it was called off after Selangor withdrew due to safety concerns following the attack against Halim.