THE disciplinary committee of International Federation of Association Football’s (FIFA) has ruled on Nov 3 that the naturalisation of seven foreign players as Malaysians were based on forged documents.
The Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) argument that the disqualification of the players was on technical grounds cannot hold water after the revelation of committee’s findings.
FIFA in its findings took the opportunity to expose that there appeared no basis to say that the naturalisation process was the work of some agents.
The findings make it clear that the FAM officials together with those in Home Ministry were clearly behind the forgery and falsification of the documents of the seven players from Spain, Netherlands, Argentina and Brazil.
FIFA’s own investigation revealed that the documents submitted by the FAM differed from the original documents of the players.
The players were granted citizenship in Malaysia on grounds that their grandparents were born in different parts of Malaysia.
‘Just admit guilt, FAM’
Clearly the falsification of the documents was done deliberately to mislead FIFA.
Without the endorsement of those in the National Registration Department (NRD), the players would not have been granted citizenship in the first place.
FAM by blaming agents behind the falsification of documents sought to engage in public relations to escape responsibility and accountability.
The suspension of FAM’s former general secretary Datuk Noor Azman Rahman was another deceitful attempt to escape responsibility.
Strangely even after the suspension, the Noor Azman was seen mingling with FAM officials in an event.
FAM hopelessly defended his presence on the grounds of his personal capacity.
I don’t understand how FAM can resolve the matter of national disgrace and humiliation by appealing to the arbitration body.
It is about time for FAM to admit once and for all that it was involved with the NRD in the falsification of the birth documents of the seven foreign players.
There are no two ways about. Yet Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail – another cheerleader of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – frantically sought to defend the citizenship of the foreign players on grounds of his special discretionary powers.
No comment from PMX
However, Saifuddin failed to invoke the discretionary powers in granting citizens to thousands of eligible persons in the country who have been waiting for years.
Anwar is trying to give the impression that he is the foremost corruption buster in the country. However, actions against corruption seems to be selectively and politically motivated.
For those political elites close to the ruling government especially in the mining scandal in Sabah, investigation by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has taken a back seat.
However, against his political enemies, investigation by the MACC proceeds uninterrupted to the extent of them charged in the court of law.
To date, Anwar has not commented on FAM and NRD’s involvement in the falsification of the birth documents of the foreign players.
Why is this so? Is it because the crime of forgery and cheating by a national sports body FAM is something unbearable?
Shouldn’t Anwar as the head of government obtain Cabinet approval for a major investigation against individuals in the FAM and NRD for forgery cheating?
Isn’t cheating and misleading FIFA as an international football body FIFA something unacceptable?
Anwar by remaining silent on the FAM’s international scandal has exposed his double standards in fight against cheating, forgery and deliberate falsification of documents.
At least Urimai’s secretary-general Satees Muniandy had the presence of mind to lodge a police report on FAM’s forgery and falsification of the citizenship documents.
Following FIFA’s disciplinary committee findings, the police have contacted Satees for a statement. – Nov 19, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
