Inquiry cripples soccer

Inquiry cripples soccer

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's growing soccer match-fixing investigation has crippled the national team while some players will get higher pay as part of official attempts to end sports corruption.

At least 44 players, former players and a coach have been arrested since the probe into alleged bribery began in October. Malaysia's national team is deeply demoralised, officials said yesterday.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president, Prince Abdullah Ahmad Shah, said Malaysia might pull out of a tournament in Bangladesh starting Jan. 25 because of the investigations.

"A pullout is not discounted if too many internationals are picked up by police for questioning," Prince Abdullah said late Tuesday.

While some soccer officials have cried foul over the arrests in the absence of concrete proof, authorities in at least one state had initiated more positive steps to weed out future bribery.

Hamid Pawanteh, chief minister of northern Perlis state, has announced a 100 percent increase in payouts to to state players and soccer officials.

"This will ensure that players and officials are less prone to accepting bribes or getting involved in match-fixing," Hamid said.