Yusof withdraws from EAIC task force in heritage player probe

PUTRAJAYA: Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) member Datuk Seri Dr Yusof Ismail has voluntarily withdrawn from the special task force set up to investigate the issue involving seven national heritage players.

The EAIC said the administrative measure was taken to ensure the commission’s integrity, transparency and independence from any potential conflict of roles since Yusof is also a Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) special independent investigation committee member.

"This decision in no way affects the position nor the credibility of Datuk Seri Dr Yusof Ismail as a member of the EAIC," it said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 13).

The task force was established on Nov 4 to investigate allegations of failure in identity document verification and standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance in the citizenship process involving seven heritage Malaysian footballers linked to the FAM and a probe by world governing body FIFA.

On Nov 3, Fifa's Appeal Committee reportedly upheld the sanctions imposed by its Disciplinary Committee on FAM and the seven heritage players for offences related to document falsification under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC).

The Appeal Committee, in a statement published on Fifa's official website, confirmed that it had dismissed the appeal lodged by FAM and the players - Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.

Following the decision, FAM was ordered to pay a fine of CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8mil), while each player was fined CHF2,000 (around RM11,000) and also suspended for 12 months from participating in football-related activities. - Bernama

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