Melaka United ordered to pay nearly RM700,000 after player killed by lightning
Published on: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Published on: Thu, Jun 19, 2025
By: FMT Reporters Text Size: The Melaka High Court awarded AU$192,000 (RM528,000) for loss of dependency, RM120,000 for failure to insure the player, and RM50,000 in legal costs. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: The High Court in Melaka has ordered the Melaka United Soccer Association (Musa) to pay nearly RM700,000 following the death of an 18-year-old Australian player who was struck by lightning nine years ago. Stefan Petrovski, an 18-year-old goalkeeper with Melaka United, was hit by lightning while training at the Hang Jebat Stadium on April 3, 2016. He died nearly a month later, on May 1, from brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen.
Advertisement His father, Marco Petrovski, sued Musa and 15 of its officials for negligence and failing to provide a safe environment for his son. The family claimed that no automated external defibrillators (AED) were available during training, no doctor was present at the session, and training was not stopped despite rain increasing the risk of lightning. They also said Musa failed to take out a personal accident insurance policy as required by the player's contract. Justice Radzi Abdul Hamid ruled that Musa was negligent and had a duty of care to protect Petrovski as a professional player. The court awarded AU$192,000 (RM528,000) for loss of dependency, RM120,000 for failure to insure the player, and RM50,000 in legal costs. The judge rejected Musa's defence that a panel doctor did not have to be present at training sessions, stating that Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) rules required at least one doctor to be available during both matches and training. 'The defendants contended that under FAM regulations, a doctor does not need to be at the training session,' said Radzi. 'This court disagreed with the defendants' contention… It makes no sense to appoint the doctor who is absent and must be called to the location in the event of a medical emergency. 'The defendants also failed to adequately train their staff to use AED, as well as to respond to cardiac related emergencies, which contributed to Petrovski's death.' The court also ruled that the association had breached their contractual obligations with Petrovski after it failed to insure him. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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