PUTRAJAYA, Jan 9 — Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin welcomed the firm steps taken by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to combat bribery and match fixing in football involving players from the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA).

“I am pleased with the action taken by the FAM to combat the heinous act. It shows that the national body is serious and I hope they (FAM) will investigate further to acquire strong evidence,” he told reporters after handing over the Jalur Gemilang to the Malaysian Paralympic contingent to the Para Asean Games in Myanmar today.

“Bribery and match fixing is a serious crime and should be referred to the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to take action according to the law. We will not compromise.”

On Dec 20, 2013, the FAM had banned five players for life and fined them RM20,000 each for alleged match fixing and bribery charges, involving Fadhullah Yunsifar, Phoo Kai Lun, Khairul Anuar Shafie, Jeremy Danker and Hafizi Roslee.

Kuala Lumpur head coach Stanislav Lieskovsky from Slovakia, assistant manager Rosli Omar and team official Saari Jani were also found guilty and meted a similar punishment.

Two days ago, the FAM Disciplinary Committee held back the decision involving seven players who were also charged with a similar offence as investigations have not been completed.

The seven alleged players are S. Sivaraj, Amirul Asraf Mohd Noor, Azizon Kadir, Benedict Martin, J. Mughilan Kartik, Syazwan Rani and Azwan Jatin.

According to the FAM, statements from six other players would be investigated before deciding on the punishment for the seven. — Bernama