Independent committee led by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif handing over their finding to Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi.
PETALING JAYA: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Datuk Noor Azman Rahmanto face disciplinary action, football agents have to be registered, player's eligibility has to be audited while a police report must also be lodged.
The committee, chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, investigated documentation issues involving the seven suspended national players and its findings were submitted to FAM for further action.
The panel also included former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, former MAMPU director-general Datuk Seri Yusof Ismail, and lawyer Datuk Thavalingam C Thavarajah, who acted as secretary.
"The general secretary of FAM, Datuk Noor Azman bin Haji Rahman was the person who instructed the impungned documents be submitted to FIFA. He did so without confirming their authenticity despite the original handwritten birth records being unavailable from the NRD.
"Therefore, the committee recommends that the FAM disciplinary committee initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the general secretary in accordance with FAM's due process requirements."
The committee have also recomended the FA of Malaysia to look into their governance, to come out with preventive measures and credibility restoration plans.
"The committee could not conclusively determine who falsified the impugned documents. This is due to the fact that the certifying Notory Public did not cooperate and the seven players' agents could not be located despite reasonable efforts," concluded the committee.
"What is clear is the serious failiures in oversight, due diligence and administrative control within FAM's management permitted this incident to happen without detection or intevention.
"FAM are advised to lodge a police report immediately, take appropriate internal disciplinary action where oversight failed."
After the findings were handed over, there was talk that the FAM executive committee had resigned en masse in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
However, acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi, denied the talk and said all FAM executive committee members remain committed to their duties.
"FAM wish to clarify that there has been no mass resignation or dissolution of the FAM executive committee as alleged.
"For the record, the appointment and election of all FAM executive committee members were carried out through legitimate and constitutional channels, following a voting process at the FAM Congress.
"It is in accordance with FAM statutes and the guidelines set by the international governing body of football.
In October, FIFA had alleged that Malaysia had falsified documents involving seven heritage players.
The players affected are Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel. FIFA imposed a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (around RM1.8 million) on FAM, while the seven players were each fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,000) and suspended for 12 months.
