Friday, January 10, 2014
KL Corruption Net Spreads
AS the FA of Malaysia prepares to charge more Kuala Lumpur players for fixing matches, the city team could potentially be left crippled this year.
FAM's disciplinary committee chairman Datuk Taufek Abdul Razak said on Tuesday that only after questioning all KL players from the 2013 squad can a decision be reached on the seven players who have already been charged.
Three of the seven -- Benedict Martin, Syazwan Rani and J. Mughilan Kartik -- remain with KL while Syafiq Johari, Ahmad Jihad Ismail and Taufiq Shukor are another three who have been retained.
Five players have already been banned for life after failing to respond to the charges while former national goalkeeper Azizon Abdul Kadir is among the seven contesting the allegations.
If KL's retained players all fall foul of FAM, the three-time former Malaysia Cup champions' bid to gain promotion from the third-tier FAM League after last season's disastrous, and potentially corrupt, display may be doomed from the start.
FAM, it is learnt, could send the charge sheets to Kuala Lumpur FA as soon as today which means those who have joined other teams, Malacca and Police among them, would similarly be affected.
KLFA general secretary Nokman Mustaffa said the worse-case scenario would leave KL with a depleted squad but one with which they must soldier on.
"FAM has said it wants to call in all the players from last season's squad, in addition to the 12 already charged," said Nokman yesterday.
"We retained six players from last season and if they are found guilty, then our team will have a problem.
"The coach had planned the season around these six players but if they are banned then it will make his job difficult."
KL coach Tang Siew Seng, however, has taken steps to continue life without Syazwan, Mughilan and Benedict but the prospect of losing Syafiq, Jihad and Taufiq will stretch his resources to the limit.
Syazwan would have been the first choice to start in central defence but Siew Seng left the defender on the bench in a 1-1 friendly draw against Premier League side DRB-Hicom on Saturday to test other options.
Mughilan is recovering from an injury while Benedict was not used though Syafiq and the new defensive combination of Jihad and Taufiq all played.
KL play Premier League side Police in a friendly at the Petaling Jaya Stadium today when Dollah Salleh's new side could feature Azizon and Munir Amran in a reunion of sorts with their former team.
Read more: KLFA braced for the worst - Soccer - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/soccer/klfa-braced-for-the-worst-1.458158#ixzz2px2VysOM
# posted by Me @ 7:35 AM 
