NO COMPLAINTS TO FAM YET
Stuart urges clubs to combat illegal ‘bung’ transfers
THE FA of Malaysia (FAM) have not received any formal complaints on “bung” transfers in the M-League.
This was stated by FAM secretary general Stuart Ramalingam yesterday.
He said FAM will take action if they receive any formal complaints submitted together with evidence.
On Sunday, Timesport reported that several coaches and top officials in the M-League have been receiving bungs for player transfers during transfer windows.
A bung is an unauthorised or undisclosed payment to a club official, or any other decision maker within the club, to “grease” a deal. In other words, a secret financial incentive to make a transfer happen.
This unprincipled practice is the reason some teams go for “mass” changes of foreign players during the transfer windows with
several cases in the past which saw top scoring imports replaced by new signings.
Stuart said: “It’s more than football, this is a civil and criminal act which constitutes a breach of position of the employee with the club or team itself.
“The club has to combat these criminal acts and they could work with the police or the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia. But if we get a report and evidence, we will definitely take action from a footballing sense.
“If it’s more than that, then the clubs or the involved parties will need to take it up through the proper channels.
“Having said that, this is not a domestic issue alone. It’s an issue that is faced by many countries and even in the most commercialised league such as the EPL.”
Stuart stressed FAM will only act on matters that are within the nation’s governing football body’s jurisdiction.
But if there are bung problems in Malaysia, Stuart urged club and teams in the M-League to practise checks and balances, an internal control mechanism that guards against frauds.
“This is a question of individual integrity rather than a football issue. It’s better to educate on this matter because like I said, in a corporation, it’s a breach of trust to influence certain things. “It’s an employee/employer issue, so hopefully checks and balances practices can be implemented at a club level to ensure this doesn’t happen.”