HIGH PRICE TO PAY, WARNS MATLAN

Sabah legend urges players to stay away from match-fixing

MATLAN Marjan has warned Malaysian players against making the same mistakes he made 23 years ago when he was banned from the sport for life for fixing matches.

After gaining fame for scoring twice for Malaysia against England in a 4-2 friendly defeat in 1991, Matlan's world came crashing down when he was found guilty of fixing matches in 1995.

Being banished from his hometown and unable to play football meant Matlan struggled to make ends meet.

The Sabah legend hopes never to see anyone suffer the same fate after match-fixing allegations returned to haunt Malaysian football when two Sarawak players were arrested last week.

Matlan said players today have no reason to fix matches as they are well-paid.

“Players need to think long and hard (about taking a bribe). Football today is far different than it was 20 years ago,” said Matlan, whose life ban was lifted by FAM in April last year.

“It was tough when I was hit (by a ban) because football was my only source of income. I was put under so much pressure, especially when it came to caring for my family.

“But I was lucky that my ban was lifted by FAM after Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim became president.

“So I hope to use this opportunity to make up for my mistake last time.”

Despite the life bans handed out to match fixers in the 1990s, the problem never went away as the detention of two Sarawak players by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission indicates.

NSTP Sports quoted former FAM deputy president Datuk Seri Ridzuan Sheikh Ahmad as suggesting on Saturday that a three-year jail term should be given to players found guilty of fixing matches.

Matlan agreed but said the it should first be provided in the law.

“All angles must be evaluated before a sentence is given out.

“For me, clubs must also bear responsibility for the welfare of players because match-fixing used to happen due to their failure to pay salaries,” said Matlan.

“But now most teams have become better governed and salaries of players are quite high.

“But if you still don’t pay them then there is no point in earning such high salaries. Both sides need to be responsible.”