Malaysia Halts Football Funding Amid FAM Forgery Scandal; Government Demands Accountability & Restored Public Trust

Malaysia Halts Football Funding Over Document Forgery Scandal

Malaysia's football governing body, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), is reeling from a significant crisis after the government announced the suspension of all new funding. This drastic measure comes in the wake of a widespread document-forgery scandal that has cast a shadow over the nation's beloved sport.

International Backlash and Player Involvement

The scandal, which saw seven foreign-born players' documents faked, has already drawn stern action from global football authority Fifa. Fifa has imposed fines, issued player bans, and even initiated criminal complaints against FAM. Remarkably, two of the players involved in the controversy scored during a crucial Asian Cup qualifier victory against Vietnam in June, further intensifying the fallout.

Government Demands Accountability

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh addressed parliament on Thursday, making it clear that additional government grants would be withheld. Minister Yeoh emphasized that funding would only resume once FAM effectively addresses the issue, restores public confidence, and ensures complete accountability for all public funds. “This is an immediate step while we await the full investigation led by Tun Raus Sharif,” she stated, referring to the former chief justice heading an independent committee probing the documentation fraud.

The government's stance is unequivocal: no further financial assistance will be provided until FAM demonstrates that every allocation and every ringgit of public money is managed with transparency and full accountability. This move underscores the government's commitment to integrity in sports and its resolve to ensure public funds are used judiciously, especially in light of such an embarrassing national incident.