Butler attacked photographers, Boateng has intervened

Boateng (right) and Butler (right).

Controversy regarding the demand rested head coach club T-Team status, Peter Butler has reached its peak when former Terengganu operator goes overboard with the push of a photographer during the delivery of letters 'rested' on the field Gong Rhino Sports Complex yesterday.

Not only that, the England-born coach also allegedly was cursing, pushing and trying merampak camera Syamim Tengku Ismail Tengku owned.

Butler, who is also the team manager, repeatedly drove while pushing and cursing the 21-year-old photographer with the call 'stupid' so he was quite far from where the coach received a letter from the honorary secretary of the Football Association of the District of Kuala Terengganu (PBSDKT), Ali Embong.

Still, Tengku Syamin trying to take pictures from a distance, still not safe when the T-Team captain George Boateng also intervene and act fierce with cameras seized from their possession.

"I refuse to let go of my camera for fear harmed by the import striker (Boateng), I had to endure the pain when he (Boateng) acting twisting my arm and scratched with his nails.

"I was surprised by the aggressive action and did not think Boateng willing to act in such a way to me, but I managed to maintain the camera from being seized," he said.

In the meantime, Tengku Syamim said, he's just doing her job and did not think Butler and Boateng are willing to act violently against it that often cover the training ground and the stadium.

"I have lodged a police report at the police station in Kuala Terengganu did not want things like this over and over to other journalists or photographers in the future.

"I also hope the T-Team management can take appropriate action on the coaches and players as imports such things should not happen to the media that only the job," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of T-Team, Ab Rasid Jusoh when contacted expressed regret over the incident and promised to do a thorough investigation in the near future.

"Whatever it is we will do a thorough investigation on this matter, and appropriate action would be taken if it is proved they are both guilty of the offense on the training ground this afternoon (yesterday).

"We will get the details of all that was at the scene before further action is taken," he said.

Commenting on the letter to relax Butler, Ab Rasid said T-Team head coach will be sidelined for 30 days, effective today (yesterday) sent by registered post.

"Our officers are on the training pitch to deliver a copy of the letter to Butler and we did not think it ended with tension.

"The letter contains instructions to Butler relax and not take part in any activity involving the team," he said.

However, he said, Butler will still receive a monthly remuneration of salary and other allowances while he rested, and his duties as head coach will be taken temporarily by assistant coach Che Ku Marzuki Che Ku Mohd Nor.

"The decision rested Butler approved by the board of directors as the T-Team team is in the relegation zone after the completion of the first round of the Super League.

"We hope that the act of taking rest Butler and new foreign players in the near future be able to help the team achieve victory when they travel to Kuantan Pahang Saturday to meet qualifier in the second round," he said.