Youth and Sports Ministry reaffirms commitment to grassroots football development through NFDP, urging public support amid ongoing heritage player document scandal.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Youth and Sports has pledged to continue strengthening national football development despite the ongoing crisis surrounding heritage players.
Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said this includes bolstering grassroots programmes under the National Football Development Programme.
He plans to launch several new NFDP initiatives soon following discussions with Football Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman.
“We are strengthening the NFDP programme to ensure that more new talents can be unearthed,” Dr Mohammed Taufiq said.
He urged Malaysians and football fans not to lose heart and to continue supporting the sport’s development.
The national team is currently embroiled in a scandal involving forged naturalisation documents for seven heritage players.
The players involved are Hector Hevel, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Gabriel Palmero.
Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport partially accepted the players’ appeal against FIFA punishments.
CAS ruled the players remain suspended for 12 months, but the ban now only applies to official matches.
It also upheld a CHF350,000 fine against FAM, describing the punishment as fair and proportionate.
The issue emerged last September after FIFA discovered falsified documents were used to support the players’ eligibility.
