SINGAPORE — Tuesday (Jan 3) was a sad day for football fans here as Singapore bowed out of the 2022 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup following a 4-1 loss to Malaysia at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

However, the salt in the wound for Singapore fans came when former Lions centre-back Baihakki Khaizan was shown apparently "celebrating with high fives, handshakes, laughter and selfies" right after the full-time whistle that sealed his former national team's elimination.

In a full video of the broadcast on streaming site meWatch, the camera zoomed in on a VIP section where Baihakki was seated with Malaysia fans. This was right after the final whistle went off and he was seen laughing and clapping, then smiling for a selfie with one of the fans.

The match commentator then announced: "Baihakki Khaizan was part of the team that won here by three goals to nil."

During the 2012 AFF Sukuzi Cup group-stage match between Singapore and Malaysia, played in the same stadium, Singapore beat Malaysia 3-0.

Singapore went on to win the championship that year, with Baihakki scoring a goal in the first leg of the final against Thailand.

The 39-year-old announced his retirement from professional football in February last year and works as a lead of special projects and ambassador with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

In a TikTok video posted by Baihakki just before the 8.30pm match on Tuesday, he looks around Bukit Jalil Stadium as an off-screen voice asks: "So, Bai, how's the feeling?"

"Solid," he responds, grinning and flashing a thumbs-up at the camera as fans cheer in the stands. "This is football, my friend," he says.

After the match, though, Baihakki's display of jubilation did not sit well with TikTok users this side of the Causeway.

After the footage of him laughing was screened on television, people left comments on his TikTok account to register their dissatisfaction with the former national player.

The top comment read: "Can you clarify why you were celebrating at the final whistle? I mean, fans wanna know? Caught on TV."

Taking a swipe at Baihakki’s own word, another commented: "Solid. Like your laugh at full-time. Not bad for an ambassador role."

Online users were also up in arms on the Hardwarezone forum, where one asked: "Is Baihakki Khaizan a 'siao lang' (crazy person in Hokkien)?

"He (was) celebrating Singapore's elimination from (the) AFF Cup on national TV live!"

Several people joked that he might have placed a "bet (with) Singapore Pools" and was simply celebrating his win.

In response to the backlash, Baihakki put up a poster of a message on Facebook just after midnight on Wednesday, apologising for "the incident".

He said that the broadcast had unfortunately switched to show him right when he was in the midst of “a non-football-related joke with the Malaysian fans".

"How I wish the camera showed the times I smashed the bottle when the goals went in," he added. "However, I'm sorry for the misunderstandings.

"The boys did their best but Malaysia wanted it more and showed hunger for victory."

On Instagram, the FAS ambassador also posted a one-minute video to further explain the situation.

"I understand, you know, the camera panned to my side and I was (laughing) with some of the Malaysian fans who were taking pictures and all that," he says in the video.

"I apologise to those who misinterpreted (it), it was not meant to (be) laughing at anybody... I don't do that.

"I wanna be the bigger person to actually apologise to all of you and hopefully, we are all on the same page. I think sometimes, you are just unlucky, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that's all right.

"It's okay as long as we know that these are mistakes that, hopefully, we can avoid next time."

Under his Instagram post, fans have been largely supportive, commenting that there was no need for him to apologise.

Malaysian fans were quick to defend him, stating that Malaysia "had been (his) home for a few seasons" and he was merely showing "good manners and respect" by congratulating his Malaysian fans, especially as the Malaysian team were on home ground.

Baihakki previously played for the Johor Darul Ta'zim Football Club (JDT) in the Malaysia Super League and JDT II in the Malaysia Premier League.

Others suggested that when fans asked for pictures with him at the stadium, he would have to "show a happy face" even if he was feeling sad over Singapore's defeat.

Some viewers admitted that they had been shocked by the scene, but blamed the cameraman instead.

One said: "Indeed, Bai, even I as a Malaysian was shocked to watch that scene being broadcasted live.

"Lots of people know what a lad you are and I can immediately figure (out) what really happened. But people can easily misunderstand and it is quite an unfortunate thing to happen."