The International Investigation Commission (IIC) established by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) held its first meeting to clarify the case involving 7 naturalized players of the national team being investigated by FIFA.
According to the confirmation of Mr. Tun Md Raus Sharif - former Chief Justice, currently serving as IIC Chairman, the meeting marked an important step in the process of independent and transparent investigation. He said that the committee will strive to complete the report in the next 6 weeks, ensuring that all conclusions are implemented fairly and objectively.
IIC was established on October 7 after FIFA announced the launch of an investigation into allegations that some Malaysian players used fake records of ancestral origin to qualify for international competition. The Committee consists of 4 members, all of whom work voluntarily and do not receive remuneration.
FAM also separated the administrative department and secretary from the committee to avoid conflicts of interest. Two independent lawyers were appointed to provide technical and legal support for the investigation.
This incident shocked Malaysian football, especially after FIFA suspended 7 players including facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Rodrigo Holgado, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Joao Figueiredo and Hector Hevel for 12 months. According to the Argentine press, many documents proving the ancestral origin of these players were discovered to be fake.
Mr. Tun Raus affirmed that IIC will publicly announce the results of the investigation and "no forbidden zones", in order to restore confidence in the transparency and integrity of Malaysian football.
