Tunku Ismail Ibrahim waded into the topic of the heavy sanctions slapped against the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and seven footballers, stressing there were pressing matters that continue to hog the domestic scene.
In a 'meet the fans' session at a cafe in Johor Bahru this afternoon, the Regent of Johor and owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim said Malaysian football is a topic where "everyone is smart at".
"Everyone is a coach. Everyone is the Fifa president. But no one is talking about why Malaysian football is not progressing," said Tunku Ismail.
"This is a question that I would like to ask the rest. There's a crisis in the mismanagement of funds among the competing clubs and there's grassroots development. Why are these topics not being spoken about?"
He gave an example where representatives from Penang FC met him to request RM500,000 to compete in the domestic league.
"I gave (the money) because Penang FC did not want to give Penang FA (money) for grassroots development.
He then spoke about FAM's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This comes after Fifa slapped the national body with a CHF 350,000 fine while seven players – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano – are due to serve a 12-month ban and be fined CHF 2,000 each.
"Even if we lose (at CAS), so what? It doesn't mean football is dead. We continue doing it until we achieve our ultimate goal. That is the idea," he added.
He once again insisted that it was Fifa that had earlier allowed the seven players to be fielded in the Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam in June. Malaysia won the match 4-0.
However, a report was lodged with Fifa prompting the international body to carry out a probe that revealed the documents submitted were doctored, leading to the sanctions that were first announced in September.
"Fifa was the one that had approved (the players) and after that it became 'forgery'."
He added there were documents from abroad, and local documents that confirmed their citizenship.
"Which is correct? Why are their (foreign) documents correct and ours are not? Maybe all of you are not Malaysians, all of you are Indonesian citizens," he added, looking at the audience.
"If you can question the National Registration Department, then all of you are not Malaysians."
He raised the element of bias in the fiasco.
"Just because TMJ is involved in this Malaysian football project, we slam. If this is wrong, we wouldn't be so brave to go to CAS."
He added that FAM officials, including the national team chief executive officer, Rob Friend, should quit if they were at fault.
Tunku Ismail later stated that JDT was once in the top 10 of Asia, and that it had a good football ecosystem - from development to infrastructure.
"We represent Malaysia. At least there's a club from Southeast Asia among Asian teams. That is something we all should be proud of."
He also revealed receiving a message from Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who expressed his interest in playing at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor if Al-Nassr were to tour Asia.
"That is a positive and high recognition when people praise the stadium you have. That is a good thing and I will bring many more, not only in football, but for other sports," he added.
He also spoke to the fans about JDT's current progress.
