KUALA LUMPUR — The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to summon the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and the Finance Ministry (MoF) to investigate the allocation and use of government funds if FAM loses its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the ongoing “seven‑player” eligibility case.
The controversy revolves around Malaysia’s use of seven heritage players during the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers, including individuals from Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands, who were later found to have submitted falsified documents claiming Malaysian ancestry.
In September, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee fined FAM 350,000 Swiss Francs (approximately RM1.9 million) and issued 12‑month bans to each of the seven players.
FAM’s appeal was subsequently rejected, and the case is now headed to CAS, with a verdict expected potentially by early 2026. If the sanctions are upheld, Malaysia could face annulled results, lost points and exclusion from the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Speaking to Scoop, a highly placed source who requested anonymity said PAC is preparing to scrutinise all public funding provided to FAM over the past year, which totals at least RM15 million in direct allocations, alongside a broader RM30 million package that includes private‑sector contributions.
“PAC wants to check whether KBS and MoF followed proper procedures in approving the funds, what monitoring mechanisms were in place, and whether the money was spent in accordance with its intended purpose,” the source said.
The source added that the committee will examine whether the allocations were tied to performance or compliance benchmarks, how often FAM reported back to the ministries, and what risk‑management measures were applied given the potential fallout from the CAS ruling.
PAC members are reportedly readying hearings that would summon officials from both ministries as well as representatives from FAM once the CAS verdict is delivered.
“The committee has made it clear that failure to comply with summonses or withholding documents may be treated as contempt of Parliament,” the source added.
The PAC, a select committee of the Dewan Rakyat established under Standing Order 77(1), examines the accounts of the Federation, sums granted by Parliament, public authorities and other bodies administering public funds, and reports from the Auditor‑General.
It has the authority to summon individuals and request documents to support its investigations.
Over the years, PAC has conducted several high‑profile inquiries. In 2022, it held a special meeting after the Auditor‑General’s report revealed financial irregularities totalling RM64.11 million across four ministries.
In 2023, it summoned the Langkawi Development Authority under the Finance Ministry over concerns regarding a real‑estate project.
Investigations in 2024 were linked to the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission’s arrest of two senior officers from a statutory body related to FELCRA Berhad.
More recently, in 2025, PAC recalled witnesses from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Employees Provident Fund and Khazanah Nasional Berhad regarding airport management and privatisation issues.
The source said the planned FAM probe highlights PAC’s ongoing commitment to accountability and transparency.
“What’s at stake isn’t only the amount of money involved, but public confidence in how government funds are managed. PAC wants to ensure that large allocations, especially in high‑profile sectors like national sports, are properly overseen and reported,” the source added. – November 13, 2025