KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — Former FA of Malaysia (FAM) general-secretary Datuk Dell Akhbar Khan (pic) said it was unfair to blame the 84 former players, who served bans for match-fixing, for the drop in standard of Malaysian football.

Malaysia is ranked 174 in the world standings — its worst position ever.

“It’s quite difficult for us to say that (blame them) ... it’s been 22 years and if at all, it should be FAM maintaining the standards of Malaysian football,” he said.

“Some of them may have been directly involved, others indirectly. But we’re lumping them altogether. We must treat the cases individually.”

Police nabbed more than 100 players and officials following a major swoop on match-fixing during the 1993-1994 season which virtually paralysed Malaysian football.

Dell, who served FAM between 2000 and 2005, said it must be made clear how long were the players supposed to serve the bans.

Only six were slapped with life bans while FAM remained silent, during their announcement on Monday, on the length of the bans for the others.

“To say we have not caught any bookie or fixer ... now that’s a question the enforcement agencies must answer. It remains unclear if FAM,  throughout the 22 years, asked any of the players to reveal the workings of syndicates,” said Dell, who was Kuala Lumpur Chief Police Officer from 2002 until 2004.

“(The lifting of ban) is debatable. It depends how you want to approach it but it must be done rationally,” he said.

Former national player Datuk Santokh Singh said he was part of the team that lobbied for the lifting of the ban.

“Although they are now able to participate in football-related activities, it is up to the state FAs to decide if they are right for the teams or not,” he said.

“They can play in veteran tournaments, at the very least.”