Hot: A series of Malaysian players were arrested for match-fixing

Malaysian football fans have just received bad news after the national anti-corruption agency arrested four people, including three players, for their involvement in match-fixing in many domestic football matches.

The Malaysian Football Federation is facing a new match-fixing scandal in national football. Photo: AFP

AFP reported that in the expanded investigation related to the latest match-fixing scandal, Malaysian authorities continued to arrest a 49-year-old man on April 7. Previously, Malaysia's anti-corruption agency arrested 3 players including an Argentinian defender, a goalkeeper and a midfielder but their identities were kept secret.

The players, who play for MIFA, were arrested on suspicion of match-fixing after six of the club's last nine Liga Premier games, including heavy 7-1 and 6-3 defeats. The Straits Times quoted an unnamed official from Malaysia's anti-corruption agency as saying one of the three arrested players appeared in court on April 7 and was remanded in custody for six days for further investigation.

In a statement, MIFA President T. Mohan said: “The club has suspected that some of its players were influenced by illegal betting lines outside to fix the results of matches.” The owner of the Petaling Jaya club added: “MIFA does not condone any actions involving manipulation by anyone under the auspices of the club that go against the principles of integrity and transparency.”

Many MIFA club players were arrested in connection with match-fixing. Youtube screenshot

The latest scandal continues to hamper Malaysian football, especially as it prepares for this year's SEA Games, which the country is hosting. In 1994, Malaysian football was in a serious crisis after a shocking match-fixing scandal led to the sacking of 21 players and coaches and the suspension of 58 others. Not long after, in 1999, four men linked to a betting ring based in Malaysia were jailed for three years after being found guilty of plotting to sabotage the floodlights before the match between Charlton and Liverpool in order to influence the result.

Most recently, in 2012, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) suspended 18 youth players and banned one coach for life for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal. In 2013, a club in the country suspended all of its coaching staff and officials after a series of unusually heavy losses.

According to TNO