FAM and seven naturalised footballers were penalised by Fifa in September after the association was said to have submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility before Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) member Yusof Ismail has voluntarily withdrawn from the special task force probing the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) alleged submission of forged documents to Fifa to register seven footballers as heritage players.
EAIC said Yusof withdrew to prevent any potential conflict of interest as he is also a member of a committee that FAM has formed to investigate the matter.
“This decision in no way affects the position nor Yusof’s credibility as a member of the EAIC,” it said in a statement.
Yusof is a former director-general of the administrative modernisation and management planning unit, or Mampu.
The EAIC announced the task force on Nov 4. It will conduct a holistic investigation into the procedures involved in managing and confirming the relevant documents.
FAM and the seven naturalised footballers were penalised by Fifa in September after the world football body said the association had submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility before Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification.
The seven players are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.
Fifa has rejected FAM’s appeal against the sanctions, which it upheld in its entirety.
FAM plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
