PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) allowed 17 Kuala Lumpur players who were charged with alleged match-fixing to 'escape' with a light sentence of RM5,000 fine each and a stern warning.
The FAM Disciplinary Committee chairman Datuk Taufik Abdul Razak said all 17 players were let off with fines as the FAM had taken into account the fact that they could be victims of circumstances by their sponsors.
He said the players were warned by their sponsor to not report the alleged match-fixing to the higher authorities and the players, for fear of their safety and the safety of their families had not reported such activities.
"The agreement between the Football Association of Kuala Lumpur and the sponsor was dated Nov 12, 2012 but signed only on Dec 11, just two days before the dateline for registration of players.
"The committee feels it was a planned move by the sponsor...the mastermind has been identified but we cannot reveal the identity for safety reasons. We will refer the case to the higher authorities, Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police for action," he told reporters after chairing the meeting at Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya, here, today.
The 17 players named were Azizon Abdul Kadir, Benedict Martin, Muhammad Syazwan Mohamed Rani, J. Mughilan Kartik, Muhamad Azwan Jatin, S. Sivaraj, Mohamad Amirul Asraf Mohd Noor, Ahmad Dashila Tajudin, Hishamuddin Othman, Mohd Badrul Hisyam Azmi, Muhamad Ar'ra'uf Roslee, Muhammad Hanis Mohtar, Muhammad Rafef Raya, Muhammad Syafiq Johari, Mohd Munir Amran, Muhammad Taufiq Mohd Shukor and Ahmad Jihad Ismail.
Taufik said the players had earlier notified the Kuala Lumpur team management but the hands of the KLFA was also tied as they were indebted to the sponsors under the agreement.
"The sponsor had set various conditions and one of the condition was partly managing the team while the payment of salary was done by the sponsor. Before the start of the 2012 Premier League, all the players were gathered and directed to follow the instructions and directive given by the sponsor.
"The players followed orders and not according to sportsmanship by allowing 60 goals in 16 matches," he said.
On Dec 20, 2013, the FAM Disciplinary Committee banned five players for life and fined them RM20,000 each after finding them guilty of match-fixing and bribery.
The five were Fadhullah Yunsifar, Phoo Kai Lun, Khairul Anuar Shafie, Jeremy Danker and Hafizi Roslee while Kuala Lumpur head coach Stanislav Lieskovsky from Slovakia, assistant manager Rosli Omar and sports official Saari Jani were also handed similar punishment. - BERNAMA
JUDGEMENT: Says lop-sided deal led to players being forced to fix matches, officials to be charged
SEVERAL Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) office-bearers will be charged for match-fixing while 17 players from last season's team were each fined only RM5,000 yesterday.
FA of Malaysia (FAM) disciplinary board chairman Datuk Taufek Abdul Razak disclosed that five or six KLFA office-bearers would be charged soon.
He revealed the committee did not impose life bans on the 17 players because they agreed to fix matches under duress.
"We have informed the legal department to prepare charge sheets for the concerned KLFA officials. We blame KLFA for the entire episode. Some officials knew what KLFA was getting into," said Taufek after chairing a five-hour meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
"Those charged, if guilty, could be banned for life and this could also be extended to the association. However, this depends on the extent of the investigation and the charge sheets prepared by the legal department.
"I do not want elaborate further on the concerned KLFA office-bearers. The association tied up with a sponsor on Nov 11, 2012 while the players' signing ceremony on Dec 11 was two days before the deadline of registration.
"The players knew something was fishy with the sponsor but could not move to another team. The sponsor had planned this. We have the identity of the sponsor and will hand the information to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for further action."
Taufek said the concerned players were victims of circumstances as they were threatened with physical abuse if they did not comply to instructions from the sponsor.
"The alleged match-fixers went to the extent of visiting the players' families to intimidate them. Some players were physically abused while others were threatened with it.
"According to a player, they were taken to a location and threatened before the start of last season. The match-fixers gave them specific instructions."
Taufek said the root of the problem was because KLFA had signed a lopsided deal with the sponsor.
"The sponsor was allowed to dictate the performance of the team while some individuals representing them were registered as officials. The sponsor was also paying the players' salaries," he said.
On why the 17 players got off with a light sentence, Taufek said they were playing under duress.
"They were not playing to their true ability because of outside pressure. Furthermore, the sponsor had warned the players if they did not follow instructions, their families would be hurt.
"Some had approach KLFA but the association was powerless to do anything. We have reminded them never to get involved in match-fixing activities," said Taufek.
Azizon Kadir, Benedict Martin, Syazwan Rani, J. Mughilan Kartik, Azwan Jatin, S. Sivaraj, Amirul Asraf Noor, Ahmad DashilaTajudin, Hishamuddin Othman, Mohd Badrul Hisyam Azmi, Hanis Mokhtar, Ar'ra'uf Roslee, Muhd Rafef Raya, Syafiq Johari, Munir Amran, Taufiq Mohd Shukor and Ahmad Jihad Ismail were each fined RM5,000 yesterday.
In December, five players -- Jeremy Danker, Khairul Anuar, Hafizi Roslee, Fadhulah Yunsiar and Phoo Kai Lun and three team officials -- Slovak coach Stanislav Lieskovsky, assistant manager Rosli Omar and kitman Shaari Jani -- were handed life bans for match-fixing in the 2013 season.
"The concerned five cannot appeal as we had given them time to reply to their charge sheets. We cannot do anything about it," Taufek added.
Read more: FAM blames KLFA - Soccer - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/soccer/fam-blames-klfa-1.476509#ixzz2sKheelpq
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