PETALING JAYA — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) are disappointed Fifa head of security Chris Eaton could not substantiate claims FAM officials were involved in match-fixing.
The Australian, together with two other Fifa officials, Terry Steans dan Michael Pride, visited Wisma FAM yesterday for a hush-hush meeting with FAM’s Integrity Committee, chaired by Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat.
FAM, hoping to obtain a clearer picture, doubted Eaton’s allegations published in the Singapore Straits Times on February 16 and issued a statement they were “disappointed” with Eaton’s explanations.
“FAM are disappointed as Eaton did not give any information or evidence to justify his statement. Instead, he said the statement was made based on the accusation by certain quarters and that investigations by Fifa are still ongoing,” the statement read.
“Eaton did not even clarify the accusation or the party who made such an accusation.”
Fifa, had in an email to Mailsport last month stood by Eaton’s claims adding: “Fifa has inconclusive investigative information suggesting the involvement of some football administrators.”
This did not go down well with FAM who hosted Eaton last year. Eaton was in the country then to speak to FAM officials and share information which led to the arrest of several match-fixers, including Singaporean Rajendran Kurusamy.
FAM also got Eaton to say on record the national body “was unaware” of the Asiagate scandal involving Zimbabwe and Malaysia. Mailsport, had in July 13 2009, exposed the visiting African team as impostors.
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This led to a crackdown by the Zimbabwe authorities as former Zimbabwe Football Association chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya was arrested last month after being accused of collaborating with an Asian betting syndicate to fix a number of games when the Zimbabwe team toured Asia between 2007 and 2009.
Eaton is set to leave the hotseat on April 30. He will be replaced by German top cop Ralf Mutschke. —The Malay Mail
