FAM TO LODGE POLICE REPORT OVER HERITAGE PLAYER FORGERY ISSUE

PETALING JAYA, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will lodge a police report soon over alleged document forgery involving seven Harimau Malaya heritage players.

Acting FAM president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi confirmed that the decision was made during the association’s Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting held today. 

“We will lodge a report regarding the alleged forgery of documents (involving heritage players) that were submitted to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), and to determine who is responsible for the forgery,” he told reporters after meeting at Wisma FAM here today.

In addition to the police report, Mohd Yusoff said FAM will also comply with all recommendations issued by the Independent Investigation Committee (IIC) in relation to the alleged document forgery involving the seven Harimau Malaya heritage players.

The IIC, in its full 59-page investigation report, had submitted three recommendations to FAM following the document forgery issue involving the players.

Among them was that FAM should immediately lodge a police report to enable the authorities to conduct a full and proper investigation to verify the origin of the documents suspected to be forged and to identify those responsible.

The committee noted that the case involves allegations of forgery of official documents, which constitutes a criminal offence under Malaysian law.

The IIC also recommended that FAM’s Disciplinary Committee initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the association’s secretary-general, subject to due process requirements.

In addition, the committee proposed that FAM undertake oversight and structural reforms, as well as implement preventive measures and credibility recovery efforts in terms of governance.

Meanwhile, commenting on the administrative reforms proposed by the IIC, Mohd Yusoff said the FAM will only proceed with their implementation after receiving the official decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

He said the CAS ruling will be a key determinant in deciding whether the existing leadership structure will be maintained or if a major overhaul is required.

At present, FAM’s main focus is to maintain the status quo while awaiting the official outcome, before any comprehensive reform measures are considered, he said. 

“This process must be concluded first. Only then can we make well-informed decisions in the best interest of FAM and Malaysian football,” he said.

Mohd Yusoff added that FAM has already submitted all relevant documents to CAS and is currently awaiting confirmation of the hearing date.

“At this point, the matter has effectively reached the CAS stage. We are now just waiting for the hearing date to be fixed,” he said.

-- BERNAMA