Malaysian football YouTuber and commentator Azizurrahman Zakaria, better known as Joe Zakaria, says he has “no enemies” after being brutally assaulted by two unidentified men at a petrol station in Bandar Sri Damansara, Petaling Jaya, leaving him with a fractured eye socket and multiple injuries.
The attack allegedly took place on Saturday while the content creator was inflating his car tyres. Joe said the two men suddenly approached him and repeatedly kicked and punched him without warning.
“I was filling my tyres with air when two men suddenly came over and started kicking me in the head and hitting me non-stop. Another man later came to help,” he told BH.
According to Joe, one of the attackers then began recording him on a mobile phone while accusing him of being a thief. “He kept saying, ‘This is a thief, this is a thief.’ I asked him, ‘What did I steal?’, but they simply left,” he said.
When asked whether the assault could be linked to his football commentary, Joe said he had no clear idea of the motive and did not suspect anyone. He stressed that he had no disputes with anyone, did not owe money to loan sharks, had no personal conflicts and had never been involved in road rage incidents.
“I’ve already lodged a police report, so I trust the police to carry out their investigation,” he said.
The YouTuber said his condition is gradually improving, although swelling around his jaw has made it difficult for him to speak. He suffered a fractured eye socket as well as injuries to his hands and legs.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Shamsudin Mamat confirmed that police received a report about the incident at 7.56pm on Saturday.
Initial investigations found that the victim was inflating his tyres when he was approached by two men riding a Yamaha LC motorcycle before being repeatedly assaulted and filmed. Police said Joe sustained a fractured eye socket and several other injuries, while the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.
Authorities are actively tracking down the suspects, and the case is being investigated under Section 325 of the Penal Code.
Footage of the assault has since gone viral on social media, showing Joe being repeatedly punched and kicked until he collapsed to the ground before members of the public stepped in to stop the attack. Both suspects were wearing helmets and face masks, making them difficult to identify.
Joe later removed the original video from his social media accounts, but copies have continued circulating online.
Known online through his Joe Zakaria (YTSK) YouTube channel, the content creator regularly produces videos reviewing football jerseys and boots while sharing his views on Malaysian football. As of Monday, the channel has around 10,900 subscribers and more than 150 videos.
Series Of High-Profile Football-Related Attacks In Malaysia
Joe’s assault is the latest in a string of attacks involving figures linked to Malaysian football in recent years.
In June 2023, a Harian Metro sports journalist known as Aur claimed he was surrounded and assaulted by supporters after an FA Cup semi-final match between Johor Darul Ta’zim and Selangor FC, although there was no confirmation the attack was related to his reporting.
In May 2024, national footballer Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid was assaulted and robbed near his home in Kuala Terengganu, suffering head and leg injuries.
Just days later, Selangor FC and Malaysia international Faisal Halim suffered severe fourth-degree burns after being splashed with acid at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya. The motive has yet to be conclusively established despite extensive investigations.
Former national captain Safiq Rahim was also targeted in May 2024 when two men on a motorcycle attacked his vehicle with a hammer near his club’s training ground in Johor Bahru. He escaped without injury.
In November 2025, veteran sports journalist and Twentytwo13 co-founder Haresh Deol was assaulted by several men in Bangsar. Police later said the attack was believed to be a case of mistaken identity linked to a personal matter rather than his journalism.
Police have yet to determine whether Joe Zakaria’s attack is connected to his football-related content, with investigations continuing.
