PETALING JAYA: The influence of middlemen in Malaysian football must be curtailed.
Former national youth coach and coaching instructor Datuk M. Karathu has called for stricter accountability for agents and officials who bring questionable players into the local game, urging authorities to take firm action to restore public confidence in the sport.
“The agents who brought the mixed heritage players in should be banned for cheating the clubs and the sport of football,” he said.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have partially upheld an appeal by Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel over the 12-month sanction for falsifying documents in an eligibility case involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
CAS, however, eased some burden off the players by relaxing their suspension to only official matches. They could train and participate in other football-related activities with their clubs.
Karathu also criticised the previous FAM administration for failing to act.
“FAM officials knew what was happening, and it is a shame that they simply closed one eye,” he said.
“It is likely that they knew who these individuals were, although they have since resigned. The new committee must make a firm decision to ensure this does not happen again.”
The former Sri Lanka coach added that those involved should be permanently barred from the sport.
“I suggest strict penalties, including being banished from football entirely and prohibited from entering stadiums,” said the former national Under-21 coach in 1991.
“These measures must also apply to the officials responsible. We need to project a clean image, and that requires real enforcement.”
Karathu is saddened with poor fans turnout at stadiums.
“Today, Malaysian football no longer draws the crowds it once did,” said Karathu, who used to coach clubs like Perak, Kelantan and Negri Sembilan in the past.
“When I was coaching, stadiums were packed by 6pm. In Kelantan, by 7pm you could have 30,000 people waiting for the game,”
Discipline and enforcement have to be the key, added Karathu, to revive the image of the game.
“Previously, when players were found to be involved in any wrongdoings, they were banned and barred from stadiums so they could not influence others,” he said.
“That same level of discipline must now be applied to agents and officials.”
Despite the challenges, he believes the situation can be corrected if decisive action is taken.
“This is a valuable lesson for Malaysian football. If we act now, we can return to normalcy within the next five years,” he said.
“Cheating only demoralises teams. We must fix this to save the game.”
THE FOOTBALL SAGA CHRONOLOGY
2025
June: Seven mixed-heritage players debut for Malaysia at AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and beat Vietnam 4-0.
Aug: FIFA started investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint about the players’ eligibility.
Sept: FIFA announced sanctions over forged documents.
> FAM fined 350,000 swiss francs (RM1.8mil), each player fined 2,000 swiss francs (RM10,500) and banned for 12 months.
Oct: FIFA’s detailed findings showed that the birth certificates of the players’ grandparents did not match records in players’ countries (Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Holland).
> Malaysia’s Home Minister confirmed players met citizenship criteria, defended process.
> FAM decided to appeal FIFA’s sanction.
> FAM suspended secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman
Oct–Nov: FIFA upheld FAM appeal, sanctions remain.
Nov: FIFA officially opened a criminal probe into alleged forgery.
Dec: FAM file appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
2026
Jan: CAS set appeal hearing. Granted a temporary stay of FIFA sanctions, allowing the seven players to resume playing while waiting for outcome.
> FAM’s executive committee (Exco) resigned en masse.
Feb: CAS hearing took place
March: CAS make verdict, partly upheld an appeal by seven players sanctioned in Malaysia’s eligibility scandal but sanctions remained.
