Tmj S Claim That Fifa S Punishment Politically Motivated Is Absurd Who Will Compensate Banned Players

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Letter to Editor
THE fallout continues from Harimau Malaya’s naturalised players debacle. FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) unsurprisingly confirmed the punishments, which include a year-long ban from all football activities for the seven “local heroes”.
A few things to note about the latest development.
Firstly, it has brought an impassioned appeal from local football strongman Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. He has accused FIFA of misapplying its own rules in punishing seven naturalised Malaysian footballers, calling the year-long suspensions “politically motivated”.
In an Instagram post, he said Article 22 of FIFA’s disciplinary code only allows punishment for those who falsify or use falsified documents, which he claimed did not apply to the players involved.
“FIFA continues to punish the players by misapplying the law… none of that (Article 22) applies to the players,” Tunku Ismail, who is also known as TMJ said, adding that the decision “appears to be politically motivated rather than anything else.”
So then, can anyone please explain just who put these players up to it? If they didn’t forge the relevant documents themselves, who did? And let’s be honest, who put this absurd idea into their heads in the first place? What incentives were they given to agree to such an amateurish scheme?
Secondly, perhaps not knowing when to accept one’s fate, FAM is seeking to appeal the punishment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport), in Lausanne, Switzerland.
All this may seem very gung-ho and noble but maybe TMJ and FAM should just accept the punishment. The fact that there is no ban for the national team from international competitions can be said to be a victory in itself.
By appealing, it will continue to shine a spotlight on this embarrassing episode, highlighting all that is wrong with Malaysian football and more.
Thirdly, it must be reiterated that FIFA opened investigations upon receiving a complaint from Vietnam. It was duty bound to investigate and what it found was a scheme so amateurish that it really had no option but to call it out what it was – a sham and a poorly executed one at that.
All it took was a check with the National Registry departments of the relevant countries to disprove claims of local birthplaces of grandparents.
There is no “political motivation” to halt the mighty Harimau Malaya from disrupting world football rankings. FIFA was just doing its job.
Last but not least, there is the prickly question of expense: Just who exactly is paying for the appeal process? More pertinently, who is forking out the sums required to get these players to don the colours of Harimau Malaya?
Now that they are banned from football for a year, who will compensate them from the loss of earnings? Let’s not forget, these include professionals plying their trade in top flight leagues such as Spain’s La Liga.
I am pretty sure that the magnificent seven did not hatch up this crazy scheme on their own. Now, they are left holding the short end of the straw and unable to earn an honest living playing football.
Will the ever generous Malaysian tax payer be left footing the bill again? Somehow, I think we all know the answer to that. 
Ahmad Maradona
Cheras
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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