Anwar Ibrahim Commits to Thorough Investigation of Football Forgery in Malaysia

Post by : Raina Nasser

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia has pledged a comprehensive and transparent investigation into allegations of document forgery tied to the national football team. This follows FIFA's suspension of seven naturalised players. Anwar emphasized that transparency is crucial and insisted that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) must have the opportunity to defend itself, highlighting that the government won't only rely on FIFA's findings.

The issue was brought to light after FIFA discovered that falsified documents had been utilized to secure Malaysian citizenship for seven foreign-born players, which allowed them to compete in an Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam. This group includes Facundo Garces, Gabriel Arrocha, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. The documents provided by FAM were found to be inconsistent with official records available to FIFA.

In response to the scandal, FAM has suspended its secretary-general and formed an independent committee for an internal investigation. Additionally, the association plans to present the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Anwar stated the investigation should proceed without interference while being conducted fairly, saying, “Go ahead and investigate. That has been the instruction. But then again, the process has to go on.”

The seven players faced a 12-month suspension from FIFA in September, leading to public outcry among fans and some legislators demanding accountability from FAM officials and governmental bodies involved in issuing citizenship papers.

Hannah Yeoh, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, clarified that her ministry cannot dismiss FAM officials, as government intervention might provoke a wider FIFA suspension affecting all tiers of Malaysian football, including youth and women's divisions. Nevertheless, her ministry has suggested delaying further funding to FAM until the inquiry concludes.

This affair has drawn significant scrutiny regarding the nationality acquisition process for foreign players in Malaysia, as well as the oversight of football governance. FIFA’s findings have revealed notable inconsistencies in documents submitted by FAM, pressing Malaysia's government to ensure accountability while maintaining the independence of its football administration.