Ramkarpal urges probe as NRD denies role in 'heritage' players scandal

Summary

• DAP MP Ramkarpal Singh urges the police to investigate alleged document falsification involving seven “heritage” footballers following the National Registration Department’s (NRD) denial of any involvement.

• He calls for statements to be taken from all parties involved in the players’ citizenship applications, including NRD officers and the players themselves.

• Ramkarpal stresses that the probe must establish whether Fifa’s forgery findings were justified, and if any offences under the Penal Code were committed.

DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh urged the authorities to investigate the purported falsification of documents concerning the seven “heritage” players sanctioned by the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa).

This followed a denial by the National Registration Department (NRD) of any involvement in the alleged forgery.

In a statement today, the Bukit Gelugor MP called upon Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Ismail to disclose if the necessary statements had been taken from the players and relevant officers, especially given reports of one of the players already returning to his country of origin.

“Since Fifa’s findings point to forgery, it is clear that there is a pressing need to investigate if there is a basis to such findings and, if so, the party or parties responsible for such forgery.

“In such circumstances, it is obvious that such investigations must include the taking of statements from all parties who were involved in the applications and subsequent approvals of the citizenship of the said players, including but not limited to, the players themselves and NRD officers who would, at the very least, be potential witnesses,” he said.

Ramkarpal referred to a Malaysiakini report last week, quoting an anonymous source within the NRD, who claimed that the department had no involvement in the alleged falsification of documents.

The source also denied allegations that NRD officers had colluded with the authorities in the alleged forgery, and stressed that the department’s role was limited to verifying eligibility for citizenship in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

Last week, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told the Dewan Rakyat that he had exercised his discretion granted under the Federal Constitution to consider the seven foreign footballers as fit to be granted Malaysian citizenship.

Saifuddin said Section 20(1)(e) of Part III of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution provides discretionary power to the home minister when considering a citizenship application from a foreigner, particularly in the fulfilment of the minimum residency requirements.

Fines and ban from football activities

On Sept 26, Fifa imposed sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the seven players for breaches of Article 22 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code on forgery and falsification.

Fifa said FAM had submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility, enabling them to feature in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam on June 10.

Fifa also determined that FAM must pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.9 million), while each of the seven players was also slapped with a 2,000 Swiss francs fine.

In the grounds of its ruling, Fifa revealed it had acquired the original birth documents of the players’ “Malaysian-born” grandparents, which contradicted the allegedly doctored documents submitted by the Malaysian side.

The players, Imanol Javier Machuca, Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano, have also been suspended 12 months from all football-related activities.

However, on Oct 11, the New Straits Times reported that Machuca had returned to his home country.

The daily, citing Argentine news outlet Sábado Vélez, which covers Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield based in Buenos Aires, said the player will be rejoining his club.

Brought country into disrepute

In his statement today, Ramkarpal further stressed that the investigations must be carried out to determine if Fifa’s claims of forgery were justified, and if certain authorities have committed offences under Section 200 of the Penal Code, concerning the falsification of information.

“The police must conduct thorough and transparent investigations into the football citizenship scandal, as the matter is very much in the public domain and has brought the country into disrepute.

“The public deserves answers and urgent investigations ought to be carried out without fear or favour,” he said.

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