The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has sanctioned the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for submitting false documents to confirm the eligibility of seven newly naturalised players in a match against Vietnam. FAM was fined RM1.8 million, while each player received a RM10,000 fine and a 12-month suspension. The decision has sparked divided reactions, with officials defending FAM and critics accusing it of corruption and mismanagement. We dive into it with Haresh Deol.

Other stories we covered:

• Kinabatangan gains recognition: Malaysia’s Kinabatangan region has been named a UNESCO biosphere reserve, celebrated for its rich biodiversity and sustainable community practices. We hear from Shavez Cheema, a wildlife conservationist and the founder of 1StopBorneo Wildlife about this recognition.

• Global Sumud Flotilla gets closer to Gaza: Carrying aid and over 500 delegates including 34 Malaysians, the boat is now 670 kilometres away from Gaza. Despite facing drone attacks believed to be from Israel, the mission continues under naval escort from European allies. We hear from Farah Lee, an activist onboard Malaysia’s vessel, the Sumud Nusantara Asian Flotilla.

• Anwar defends decision to invite Trump to ASEAN Summit: Criticism on this has been surmounting, with former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad urging the invitation be revoked. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim insists that this is merely about diplomacy. We speak to Phar Kim Beng, Professor of ASEAN Studies at International Islamic University of Malaysia and Director of the Institute of International and ASEAN Studies. We also hear thoughts from Dato’ Ilango Karupannan, former Malaysian ambassador and senior fellow of S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

• Should sports be insulated from politics?: Political tensions are increasingly disrupting international sports, with athletes and officials clashing over symbolic gestures and affiliations. Simmering political tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified on the cricket field with India’s refusal to accept a trophy from a Pakistani minister. On top of that, there have been calls to exclude Israel and Russia from global competitions. We discuss.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Dashran Yohan, Juliet Jacobs, Sudais Ferhard, Alia Zefri, Sharaad Kuttan

Presented by: Sharaad Kuttan, Dashran Yohan

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Categories:  sports,  environment,  politics,  international

Tags:  football association of malaysia,  fifa,  donald trump,  asean summit,  kinabatangan,  Global Sumud Flotilla mission,