Wednesday 22 February 2012

FAM wants FIFA official to explain his statement about match-fixing

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) has given Fifa's head of security Chris Eaton five days to give a detailed explanation of his statement in Singapore's Straits Times last week that implicated local football administrators to match-fixing in Southeast Asia.

FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said: "If we fail to get a reply, we will correspond directly with Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke.

"We sent him (Eaton) a letter on Feb 16, requesting for an explanation. We are giving him another five days."

FAM is upset with Eaton's actions for choosing to reveal the information to a newspaper when it had been previously agreed that Fifa would communicate with the national body on matters pertaining to match-fixing.

Eaton was also quoted in Singapore's Today on Feb 17 as saying that Malaysia and Singapore were centres of interest for match-fixing.

"We have received several allegations (of match-fixing), both discreet and public, that seem to implicate key people in both these countries. I will respond to FAM soon," Eaton, a former Interpol officer told the newspaper,

Eaton, however, has resigned from his post and is joining Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security in May. 

"We (Fifa and FAM) have already established a line of communication whereby they (Fifa) must come to us if they have any information on match-fixing in Malaysia," said Azzuddin.

"But he (Eaton) has not told us anything nor has he shown any proof. An allegation of such nature requires proof or leads which can help us tackle the issue."

FAM, the Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have begun investigations on alleged match-fixing in this season's M-League.

The national body revealed recently that three senior teams were being investigated.

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