Ex-footballer Robert Douglas Friend became the CEO of Harimau Malaya on Jan 1, a new position created to manage the national team.
PETALING JAYA: Robert Douglas Friend has denied being just a consultant to Harimau Malaya, asserting that he is in fact CEO of the national football team.
Friend maintained that he had stated his official designation as CEO of Harimau Malaya in the Fifa hearing on the heritage players controversy, NST reported.
The Canadian said the Fifa appeal committee had likely misunderstood him as he described his role in the legal process.
“During the hearing, I explained that I was also consulting with the legal firm representing the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), simply to support the preparation work for the case.
“It seems that this advisory context was interpreted as ‘consultant’ in the written summary. With that, I hope clarity is now properly shed,” he was quoted as saying.
In its written decision on the FAM’s appeal against sanctions meted out on the association and seven players, the Fifa committee said Friend had “explained that he works in a consultant role to the FAM”.
The panel also said Friend had told them that he was still based in Canada and only travelled to Malaysia for matchdays.
Friend also said his role was to help with the FAM’s project to search for heritage players, mainly in improving the team’s coaching and technical staff.
“He stated that all the processes regarding the naturalisation of players was managed by the FAM directly and that he was tasked with assisting with the proceedings since their opening on Aug 22.
“He stated that he was not aware of any wrongdoing and was not involved in any of the processes until the cited date,” said the Fifa appeal committee.
Friend became the CEO of Harimau Malaya on Jan 1, a new position created to manage the national team.
He retired as a professional footballer in 2014, having played for clubs like Molde FK, C Heerenveen and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
After retiring as a player in 2014, he founded Toca Football Canada, a football technology training institute. He is also the co-founder of the Canadian Premier League, Pacific FC and Vancouver FC.
Friend said he had delayed putting up a public response to the contents of the Fifa committee’s written judgment to “maintain discipline during the ongoing appeal” at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He nonetheless said he respected the Malaysian public’s demands for transparency.
“We are still in a legal process, and it was crucial that everything communicated externally was aligned with the appeal strategy. My responsibility was to support the legal team quietly and professionally, not to add noise.
“I respect the concerns voiced by the fans. I remain committed to doing my part for the country, and I hope we can move forward together stronger, clearer, and united for Harimau Malaya.”
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