1994 Malaysian football scandal

In 1994, football in Malaysia was rocked by a bribery and corruption scandal. At that time, more than 100 players and coaches suspected of fixing the results of Malaysia Cup and Premier Leaguematches were detained by the authorities for interrogation. As a result, 58 of them were banned for one to four years by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). A total of 21 players and coaches were fired while several players were banned for life and not allowed to participate in FAM-organised competitions.[1] Rahim Abdullah, who took over the squad for the 1991 SEA Games, has said that he had suspected some players of match-fixing since the Malaysian defeat in that event.[2] Many Malaysian fans blamed the scandal in 1994 as a catalyst for the downfall of Malaysian football.[3][4]

In 2016, 22 years after the scandal, a ban on 84 players was lifted by the FAM.[5]

  1. ^ Irma Musliana (16 April 2016). "APA JADI PADA 1994 YANG MERANAPKAN BOLASEPAK KITA? DAN 8 LAGI FAKTA SEJARAH BOLASEPAK MALAYSIA" (in Malay). soscili.my. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  2. ^ Frankie D'Cruz (23 October 2023). "Jurulatih kecewa, pemain culas dan pegawai menyibuk dalam skuad Harimau Malaya 1991" (in Malay). Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Good money, bad money". The Economist. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. ^ Johannan Sim (25 May 2016). "The 1994 scandal that destroyed Malaysian football". cilisos.my. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  5. ^ Eric Samuel (9 May 2016). "FAM lift bans on 84 involved in 1994 match-fixing scandal". The Star. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2016.