THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has asked ZIFA to forward its findings on match fixing involving a betting syndicate run from the Asian country.
Dato’ Azzuddin Bin Ahmad, FAM general secretary, said the sharing of information between the two associations over the scandal would help them “take extra precaution in future”.
A ZIFA probe committee chaired by Ndumiso Gumeede has found that Zimbabwean players, coaches, officials and referees had been involving ion match fixing between 2007 and 2009.
The corruption, the committee found, revolved around a Malaysian national named so far only as Raja Raj – although officials say this may not be his proper name.
ZIFA CEO Henrietta Rushwaya and the association’s programmes officer Jonathan Musavengana have been suspended and face lengthy bans, even criminal trials it has been suggested, after being fingered as central players in the corruption.
The scandal, now dubbed Asiagate by the local media in Zimbabwe, has attracted the attensions of FIFA, the Confederation of African Football and football associations in Thailand, Syria, Oman and now Malaysia.
In a letter to ZIFA released Monday, FAM’s Ben Ahmad said: "On behalf of His Royal Highness Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, FAM president, the Football Association of Malaysia would like to present its best compliment to Zimbabwe Football Association.
"Please be informed that we have picked up an article from BBC Sport website and understand that Zifa has suspended the chief executive in relation to a national team tour of Malaysia.
"The FA Malaysia also heard that the match between the two countries was fixed and involving a Malaysian.
"Therefore we would be grateful if Zifa has concluded the investigation and know if any Malaysian involved in this match-fixing. We kindly request Zifa to inform FA Malaysia the name of this individual or group for us to take extra precaution in the future.”
Gumede’s probe team has uncovered evidence that Rushwaya and Musavengana arranged trips by under-strength Zimbabwe teams to travel to Asia where they were given money by betting syndicates in return for producing pre-agreed results.
It has since emerged that Monomotapa football club may have also lost African Champions League matches for money, leading to the team’s coach Rodwell Dhlakama being fired.