Foul!

As published in Mailsport today 'Step in wrong direction' By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my KUALA LUMPUR — FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) decision to lift the ban of former footballers caught match-fixing in the 1990s has sparked a heated debate among observers and officials. While some stressed the players should be given a second chance, others said the group destroyed M-League and killed Malaysian football. “Has it ever recovered? The ramifications are still being felt today not just in Malaysia but regionally and many ways internationally,” said International Centre for Sport Security Sport Integrity Director Chris Eaton. “What happened in Malaysia 22 years ago set a negative tone in regional football and exposed the methods of criminals. But actions, or more accurately inaction, that contained official responses merely to players, allowed a criminal match-fixing and betting fraud trend from Malaysia to improve its methods and to connect...

There is a possibility the FA of Malaysia (FAM) could face sanctions for breaches seen at the World Cup qualifying (round 2 return leg) match between Malaysia and Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last month. Prima facie , FAM may have breached Articles 7, 8, 18 and 19 of the Fifa Safety Regulations. This has to be complimented with Article 73 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code . Why? 1. This is a World Cup qualifying match - grouped as one of the top three major events by Fifa that must adhere to strict regulations. 2. A fan was blinded ( pic ). 3. Fans stood at the stairs, observers believed there was an over-print of tickets . 4. Stalls set up too close to the gates of the stadium. Fifa security and venue officer Dell Akbar Khan was both diplomatic and polite but agrees with my findings - as published in today's Mailsport . I hope FAM will NOT be penalised. But if they do, then it would be a bitter lesson to be learnt. Things need to be done professionally. HD say...