An independent committee could not determine who forged documents for seven heritage players but found serious oversight failures within FAM management.
AN independent committee investigating forged documents for national footballers has been unable to identify the culprits.
The Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) Independent Investigation Committee (IIC) stated it could not conclusively determine who falsified the impugned documents.
This was due to the non-cooperation of the certifying Notary Public and an inability to locate the seven players’ agents.
However, the investigation found serious failures in oversight, due diligence and administrative controls within FAM’s management.
These failures allowed the incident to happen without detection or intervention.
“FAM is advised to lodge a police report immediately, take appropriate internal disciplinary action where oversight failed and implement structural reform that the IIC recommends,” the committee said.
It added these actions are essential to prevent any recurrence and to restore credibility and integrity.
The IIC also recommends that FAM’s Disciplinary Committee initiate proceedings against general secretary Datuk Noor Azman Rahman.
This is to determine if he failed to exercise the requisite level of oversight and due diligence.
“This recommendation is made without prejudice and does not imply any findings of the general secretary’s personal involvement in the alleged falsification,” it clarified.
FIFA’s case had exposed weaknesses in documentation processes, agent oversight and verification protocols within FAM.
The IIC proposes FAM implement comprehensive structural and procedural reforms to strengthen oversight.
FAM received the 59-page report from the IIC, chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, on Monday afternoon.
The FAM Executive Committee will hold a special meeting next Monday to discuss the findings in detail.
The IIC believes the report concerning FIFA’s sanctions should be made public due to significant public interest.
FAM is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over FIFA’s punishments.
FIFA fined FAM CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million) over the documentation issue for seven heritage players.
The seven players involved were each suspended for 12 months and fined CHF2,000 (approximately RM10,000).
