KUALA LUMPUR — The independent committee set up by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to investigate the FIFA case involving seven naturalised players is expected to complete its findings within six weeks, its chairman Tun Md Raus Sharif said today.
The Independent Investigation Committee (IIC), chaired by the former chief justice, held its first meeting today to begin examining documentation and procedural issues linked to the sanctions imposed by FIFA in September.
“The committee will carry out its duties independently and with full commitment to ensure transparency and fairness in its findings,” Md Raus said in a statement.
The IIC has been tasked with reviewing the case in full and submitting recommendations to FAM for appropriate follow-up action.
Apart from Md Raus, the panel includes former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, former Mampu director-general Datuk Seri Dr Yusof Ismail, and senior lawyer Datuk Thavalingam C. Thavarajah, who serves as secretary.
To ensure impartiality, administrative and secretarial duties for the committee will not be managed by FAM but instead by the external law firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.
Acting FAM president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi confirmed that all members are serving voluntarily.
The committee’s final report will form the basis for FAM’s next steps in addressing the scandal, which drew global attention after FIFA found that falsified documents were submitted during the eligibility verification process for seven players representing Malaysia.
In September, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee sanctioned FAM and the players involved for breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, relating to the falsification and misuse of documents.
Md Raus, appointed on October 7, was given full authority to select members of the independent panel — a move FAM said was necessary to guarantee the investigation’s credibility and independence. — November 3, 2025