He says, she says, they say. Statements, narratives, and theories are being planted in the minds of many as the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and seven of its footballers are slapped with heavy sanctions by Fifa.
From so-called jealousy to Malaysia’s stand on Israel, the saga involving Fifa and FAM was the hottest topic over the weekend. Many are angry, like the disgruntled Ultras hurling expletives at FAM from the stands. Others find comfort in playing the victim, like a footballer rolling all over the field after having his shirt tugged by an opponent.
Fifa’s damning Sept 26 statement accusing FAM of “forgery” and “falsification” in recruiting footballers for Harimau Malaya struck a raw nerve. Some have even described it as the biggest scandal to hit Malaysian football since the infamous match-fixing fiasco of the 1990s.
One would assume the world body had enough evidence before issuing such a statement, let alone hand down heavy penalties to FAM and the nation’s ‘magnificent seven’ – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano. The repercussions will also be felt by the clubs employing them.
Fifa is the governing body of the sport, and is no stranger to controversy. What it says is often treated as the gospel truth.
But not by certain quarters, including Tunku Ismail Ibrahim – owner of Johor Darul Ta’zim.
The Regent of Johor, heavily invested in Malaysian football but often signing off as a royal family member even on football-related matters, is clearly vexed by the decision. He posted a witness statement by National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Badrul Hisham Alias, dated Sept 19, affirming that “due diligence and lawful procedures were observed during the process and that the issuance of these citizenship certificates (to the seven footballers) was carried out in full compliance with the legal and constitutional requirements of Malaysia.”
The NRD is under the Home Affairs Ministry.
Shouldn’t the national team chief executive officer, Robert Douglas Friend set the record straight?
Instead, Tunku Ismail received support from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, among others, who showed Fifa the red card. Yeoh posted her views on Instagram stories – a feature that disappears after 24 hours.
Some are giving Yeoh too much credit by asking her to step in. Reality check: In this Fifa vs FAM game, she is just a spectator seated in the uppermost terrace.
Khairy Jamaluddin, Johor’s youth adviser and a Johor Darul Ta’zim board member, asked why Fifa changed its mind after allowing Malaysia to field the players in an international match, and who lodged the complaint. In simpler terms, he was saying: “Last time, you say ok, why now not ok?” and “Who is so jealous of us, want to sibuk about us?”
When documents are submitted to a regional or international body, they are usually taken at face value. But when a complaint is lodged, investigations begin. Penalties follow if wrongdoings are discovered.
As for who complained – does it even matter? What matters is that Fifa found merit in the complaint.
Despite the episode, no one has produced the proof of heritage – the family tree of the seven footballers who are supposedly connected to Malaysia.
FAM instead said it is awaiting the full written judgment from Fifa before filing an appeal. Its secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, in a brief statement this evening, admitted an administrative staff made a “technical error” when submitting the documents to field the players for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against Vietnam that was played on June 10. Malaysia won 4-0.
Noor Azman, however, did not explain the error.
So, when words like “forgery”, “falsification” and “citizenship” appear in the same sentence, alarm bells naturally go off. It is no longer just about football but about individuals who have been waiting for years, if not decades, to be recognised as Malaysians.
These are people who can sing the Negaraku, speak Bahasa Melayu and live their lives here – but still lack a MyKad – although it remains unclear if the seven footballers implicated can sing the Negaraku or speak the national language, as broadcasters often avoid zooming in on their faces when the anthem is played before kick-off.
The trust deficit in the authorities will also see people questioning the government of the day for its role in facilitating such processes. This comes on top of the millions of taxpayers’ money spent over decades on a pursuit described as Malaysia’s No.1 sport, yet still struggling to produce enough local talent to form a team capable of challenging its Southeast Asian neighbours.
False representation is not new in football. In 2009, this writer exposed that the Zimbabwe “national team” who played Harimau Malaya at Cheras Stadium was, in fact, club side Monomotapa United FC masquerading as the national team. Malaysia won both “international friendlies” 4-0 and 1-0.
Then Zimbabwe FA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya was sacked, and several players and officials were banned after the fiasco.
FAM initially dismissed the episode but later took issue with Zimbabwe FA. It was a humiliating incident.
The bigger picture here is that organisations of public interest cannot escape scrutiny. If FAM believes it has been victimised, then prove it. Show us the proof of the heritage of the players, and Malaysians will rally behind you.
But if Fifa is right, then heads must roll, for those involved would be guilty of orchestrating a massive sham that has tarnished Malaysia’s name on the global stage.
To paraphrase whistleblower Edward Snowden: “There can be no faith in government (or sporting bodies) if our highest offices are excused from scrutiny – they should be setting the example of transparency.”
