Fifa’s decision to dismiss the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) appeal over a case involving “doctored documentation” of seven “heritage” footballers has raised serious questions about integrity in Malaysian football.
Sports lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli said Malaysia must focus on reinforcing sporting integrity and governance following the scandal involving the players’ citizenship applications. He noted that while Malaysia’s current governance structure may be sufficient, weak enforcement and the prevalence of unregistered agents in local football have allowed such violations to occur.
“When we talk about sports integrity, it refers to ethical principles and values. These are things that are internal to a person – you learn to have those principles and values,” said Nik Erman.
“However, I believe good sporting governance could ‘force’, or at least educate, stakeholders to develop stronger integrity. When it comes to football, the structure may already be sound, but what’s lacking is strict enforcement and the willpower to uphold and apply governance and rules.”
Nik Erman was speaking to Twentytwo13 in conjunction with the Sport Integrity Global Alliance’s (SIGA) Sport Integrity Action Month. Twentytwo13 is SIGA’s official media partner.
SIGA is a non-profit global independent organisation with one aim: To ensure the sport industry is governed under the highest integrity standards so that the values of sport are protected.
Nik Erman also highlighted the issue of unlicensed football agents in Malaysia.
“Only registered Fifa agents are allowed to handle player transfers. However, a friend of mine who is a registered Fifa agent is frustrated that Malaysian football is full of brokers – unregistered agents – who continue to deal with players,” said Nik Erman.
“When issues like this arise, the brokers go silent. What are the chances that these seven players were brought to Malaysia by unregistered agents?”
He added that another example of weak integrity is FAM’s ongoing lack of transparency about the players’ family trees and supposed Malaysian connections.
Nik Erman called for “real-world consequences” for all those involved in fraudulent practices.
“For sports integrity to be taken seriously, there must be real-world consequences – both criminal and civil,” he said.
“As of today, there are no real consequences for the seven players. If their applications for naturalisation were based on false information, their nationality should be revoked.”
He added that while he does not believe the players were personally involved in falsifying the documents, they should not be exempt from accountability.
“They would, and should, have been reasonably aware of who was responsible for these actions. Based on the National Registration Department’s letter, interviews were conducted – which I presume included the players themselves. I’m sure there are sworn statements from the players claiming Malaysian ancestry,” he said.
“In general, there is less patience in everyday life, including sports. Success is no longer viewed as a long-term pursuit but something that must be achieved immediately. Breaking the rules goes back to integrity – a person with integrity will not do it, no matter how easy it is; one without integrity will break the law, no matter how hard it is.”
On Monday, the Fifa Appeal Committee dismissed FAM’s appeal against sanctions imposed on the national body and the seven players.
Fifa confirmed that FAM must pay a fine of CHF 350,000. The seven players will continue to serve a 12-month ban from all football activities and have each been fined CHF 2,000.
The players are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
Responding to Fifa’s decision, FAM said it would write to the world body to obtain the full details and written reasons for the ruling before considering its next steps, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
