State associations urged to strengthen their finance

All state football associations have been urged to strengthen their financial situation to ensure the welfare of players are looked after.

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Razali Ibrahim said among the factors contributing to corruption in football was the lack of emphasis on the welfare of the players. He was replying to Senator Datuk Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi at Dewan Negara today.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had taken several steps in its effort to eradicate corruption in football which gave the game a bad image as was the case in 1993 and 1997 when 179 players were convicted of the offence.

"FAM had launched the Malaysian League integrity campaign 2011 during the FA Cup final match recently where both teams wore the integrity armband and put up a banner as a symbol of rejection against all negative elements," he said.  
Razali said, other than placing a police officer at all state football associations, the FAM, in cooperation with the Education Ministry, through its talent search programme at grassroots levels, had given talks on football
corruption.

Recently, the local football scene was shocked by allegations of corruption after two football coaches from two President Cup teams and a bookie were charged in court for alleged match-fixing.
They are still awaiting trial.