Joseph’s Comments Raises Red Flag
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has told its integrity department to investigate match-fixing allegations made by MISC-MIFA head coach Jacob Joseph.
According to New Straits Times (NST), Joseph made stunning comments about his own players being ‘dishonest’ after losing a Premier League match 7-2 at home to UiTM FC where MIFA conceded all the seven goals with only 15 minutes to go.
Joseph has reached out to the MIFA management about some of his players involving in match-fixing but was told to get evidence first.
FAM Stepping In
FAM general-secretary, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin was shocked when he read about Joseph’s comments.
“I read the report in the New Straits Times today (yesterday) and I am really disturbed with this. It is a statement of the coach,” Hamidin told Timesport.
“I will get FAM’s integrity department to check on this tomorrow (today). They will be on a fact finding mission and will check with Joseph and the other team’s officials.”
Hamidin stated that this will be taken seriously and any evidence found will be given to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Calls For Harsher Punishment On Match-Fixing
The Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) chief executive officer, Kevin Ramalingam has called upon harsher punishments to be imposed on those found guilty of match-fixing.
Kevin feels more needs to be done on match-fixing if Joseph’s comments are found to be true.
“Malaysian football will not move forward if such negative elements are not dealt with comprehensively,”
“A more severe punishment should be imposed on fixers. Suspending players will not solve it in a holistic manner. We need a punishment that not only affects the players but also the entire line of fixers,” Kevin told NST.
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