PETALING JAYA: National football legend Datuk James Wong has said that the seven players embroiled in the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) mixed-heritage eligibility scandal must take responsibility for their actions.
James stressed that professional players cannot rely solely on agents or officials when dealing with matters as serious as nationality, eligibility and documentation.
"What has happened is terrible. The players, some have agents, some do not. If they have agents, before penning a contract or submitting documents or speaking to authorities, you have to know what is in front of you," he said.
"I understand agents make life easier, but as a professional, due diligence is needed. You have to see everything before doing something. If you do it right, you can fall back on it.
"If you do not check properly, the buck is on you. You pay the price for your actions. You have to read everything properly. The players are fully responsible for their actions."
James further questioned FAM’s move to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), following FIFA’s release of their full motivated decision rejecting all appeals filed by the players and the association.
"What is the point? The motivated decision document is quite clear and there are more details, and questions would be asked - what else you want to do? But they want to fight it and I wish them good luck.”
