KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that there will be no cover-up in the ongoing scandal involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the registration of seven heritage players.
He described the issue as serious and confirmed that it would be addressed through proper procedures.
Speaking to the Malaysian media aboard a Malaysia Airlines flight en route to South Africa from Ethiopia on Thursday, Anwar said the Cabinet had thoroughly discussed the matter and decided that no cover-up would occur, Bernama reported.
“The Cabinet has made it clear — go ahead and investigate. That has been the instruction. But the process must be followed. We cannot act solely based on FIFA,” he stated.
Anwar assured that the government had no doubts about FIFA’s credibility, adding that it supported the stance of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
“We are not disputing FIFA’s credibility. Hannah’s position is correct. Let FAM defend itself. From the ministry’s perspective, the path is clear; follow the rules and regulations,” he said.
He stressed the importance of addressing key questions, particularly whether the documentation process abroad had been properly conducted.
“The key question is whether the documents were properly examined in Spain before they were approved. This process has never been followed before,” he noted.
Acknowledging public frustration over the issue, Anwar reiterated that due process must be respected.
“We cannot bypass the process. We must allow FAM to defend itself and let the matter run its course,” he said.
Asked whether strict action would be taken if FAM is found guilty, Anwar confirmed that penalties would be enforced, but the outcome could not be pre-empted.
“Yes, strict action must be taken if necessary. This has been discussed in Cabinet, but we cannot jump ahead. We must follow the due process. It will be a tough situation for FAM,” he added.
The Prime Minister also touched on the importance of nurturing local football talent, though he acknowledged that the process would take time, with efforts already underway.
Anwar concluded his three-day visit to Addis Ababa on November 20 and travelled to Johannesburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. He is also scheduled to visit Nairobi, Kenya, on November 23 and 24, before returning to Malaysia.
On November 3, the FIFA Appeal Committee upheld the penalty imposed by the world governing body’s Disciplinary Committee on FAM and the seven heritage players for falsifying documents under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
As a result, FAM was fined CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million), while each of the players was fined CHF2,000 (around RM11,000). The players were also suspended for 12 months from football-related activities. – November 21, 2025