FAM said Faiz Subri’s wonder goal is now in the running to be one of the finalists for Fifa Puskás Award 2016. — TheHive.Asia pic

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 3 ― The Arts Institute of Malaysia Melaka (ISMMA) hopes Puskas Award finalist Mohd Faiz Subri will be allowed by the International Football Federation (Fifa) to wear traditional Malay attire at the ceremony.

ISMMA chairman Datuk Wira Prof Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar said according to the ceremonial dress code, all men should be neatly dressed with a dark colour tie.

Nevertheless, he said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) could put in a request earlier to Fifa to obtain exemption for Mohd Faiz so that he could wear traditional Malay attire at the ceremony.

“I believe Fifa can give exception to Mohd Faiz to appear in his Malay traditional attire (baju Melayu) complete with headgear in original Melaka songket,” he told reporters after presenting a complete set of Malay clothing to the 29-year-old footballer, here, today.

He said the contribution worth RM3,000 was a recognition for Mohd Faiz where he could showcase the Malaysian identity by donning traditional Malay attire at the international stage, which would also boost the spirit of the country's younger generation.

The winner of the Puskas Award will be announced at the FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland on January 9 and Mohd Faiz is scheduled to depart from Penang this Saturday.

The Puskas award which was introduced in 2009 to recognise the most beautiful goal of the year had been won by several world football stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar and James Rodriguez. ― Bernama