TSAM-FAM fiasco a big fat joke.

Hello Mr Haresh,

Actually saya adalah follower setia blog foul. Sangat meminati cara saudara dalam menyentuh apa jua isu berkaitan sukan negara. Disini saya ingin bertanya tentang pandangan peribadi saudara berkaitan apa yang dikatakan oleh Tan Sri Annuar Musa berkaitan skuad K.Rajagopal. Secara peribadi, saya telah mendengar secara jelas interview berkenaan dan saya dapati tidak ada sebarang isu yang perlu diperbesarkan kerana dalam banyak2 point yang diberikan, kenapa angle kritikan itu yang dihighlight kan? Saya dapati lately cemuhan daripada wartawan seperti Wan Fakhrul,Ahmad Khawari Isa, Fina Nasrom, Rizal Hashim berkaitan perkara ini. Adakah wartawan sekarang terlalu biased atau hipokrit skrang?

Saya pernah terbaca kritikan terbuka Rizal Hashim terhadap K.Rajagopal dan adakah skrang ni you merasakan skuad kebangsaan kita benar2 di landasan tepat untuk mempertahankan piala AFF sedangkan kita tak pernah menang sejak tersingkir daripada Kelayakan Piala Dunia?

Apa pandangan saudara berkaitan perkara ini?

I obtained this email earlier today. Many, prior to this email, had asked my thoughts - through email and twitter - about the Annuar Musa-FAM fiasco.

My thoughts?

1. The writers have their right to comment about the matter. I am not going to comment about their writings as we are all sportswriters and we respect each and every opinion.

2. Annuar Musa gave his views over the national team only to later say his words were 'twisted'. What I don't understand is why the need to discredit members of the Press by calling them 'bodoh' and not standing by his own words?

3. Annuar Musa is a respected man in Kelantan and holds the deputy president's post in FAM. Why the need to use Facebook to throw tantrums?

4. Annuar Musa must remember he is a member of FAM and as such there should be some form of solidarity. He may not like or even talk with certain officials but that is between him and the said individuals. It must not come at the expense of national football. If one does not understand what solidarity is, refer to point No 1.

5. Having said that, one must not forget Annuar Musa's contributions to Kelantan FA. We must admit that football in Kelantan - from the marketing aspect to the level of professionalism - is a league above the other teams in Malaysia.

6. It must be noted, there are officials and individuals who are using this episode to discredit Annuar Musa. As an example - a high ranking official recently approached members of the Press after a Press conference at Wisma FAM asking why they didn't ask about Annuar Musa's statement. Not cool lah.

7. The FAM constitution needs a major overhaul. The constitution allows for such silly episodes to take centre stage. Example - Hamidin Amin is the Selangor FA secretary and the FAM Competitions Committee chairman. One may see this as a serious conflict of interest but don't blame Hamidin for the constitution allows him to wear both caps.

8. Annuar Musa must decide if he wants to be part of FAM or remain the leader of the Kelantan FA. I am fully aware he is rather disheartened with several individuals and there are two opposing camps within the national body. I am also fully aware that his MSL Sdn Bhd has had a lot of problems trying to introduce new concepts and structures within a national body that still thinks it is stuck the 1970s. And I am sure Annuar Musa is going to sorely miss former MSL CEO Stuart Ramalingam.

9. K.Rajagobal has always maintained his aim is the 2015 Asian Cup. He has admitted we will face an uphill battle in the AFF Suzuki Cup later this year and he will quit if he fails his 2015 mission. Some may not be happy with his selection process and some say he is always full of excuses. I say, only results matter and a man should be judged by what he produces. If he's good, he deserves the accolades. If he fails, out he goes.

10. Last but not least, I find this whole fiasco as a big fat joke. I believe we have better things to concentrate on and if some people feel the Media is 'stupid', then I suggest to my fellow friends and bloggers alike not to waste time on such individuals and concentrate at the school level instead. At least we are assured school kids aren't fixing matches.

Also, I have refused to write about this earlier especially in The Malay Mail for I do not want my articles be used as a tool by certain quarters to pursue their personal agenda.

I hope this answers your email Haziri.

Cheers!