Kuala Lumpur – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has โcondemned the attack on senior journalist Hareshโข Deol,โข who was assaulted after reporting on a naturalization scandal involving the โฃMalaysian National Team. The โattackโฃ occurred in theโ Bangsarโ area of central โฃKualaโฃ Lumpur โคon Tuesday, โคNovember 25th.
Deol, a journalist with over 20 years of experience, was confronted by twoโข individuals while walking to his car, with โa third person filming the assault as it โคoccurred, accordingโข to Twentytwo13, his employer.
Theโค attack is widely believed to be linked to Deol’s inquiry into alleged document falsification related to the naturalization process of sevenโ players – Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcรฉs, Rodrigo โHolgado, Imanol Machuca, Joรฃo Figueiredo, Hector โHevel, and Jon Irazรกbal – who were found by FIFA to lack Malaysian lineage. FIFA has sanctionedโ Malaysiaโฃ overโข the issue.
FAM Acting president, Datuk Wira Mohd Yussof Haji, stated,โ “Any act of aggression or attempt toโ obstruct journalists’ professionalโ duties is whollyโข unacceptable and does not โreflect the spirit of sportsmanship or the values โโof integrity upheld by this governing body,” as reported by scoop.my.
FAMโ has urged authorities to investigate theโข attack and expressed sympathy for โคDeol, โstating, “We pray that he is well and continues to be given strength โafter this unfortunate โincident.” โฃThe incident has intensified scrutiny of the Malaysian national footballโ programme and the ongoing dispute betweenโ authorities regarding the player naturalization process.