KUALA LUMPUR - The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has denied allegations that it received complimentary tickets from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to watch the 2022 World Cup matches in Qatar.
FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said the claim made by a veteran journalist in a recent article on a local news portal is unfounded.
"I would like to emphasise that there were no free tickets from FIFA. FAM did not receive any complimentary tickets for the 2022 World Cup matches, despite being a member association of FIFA.
"So, if there are allegations from certain parties claiming that FAM received free tickets from FIFA, that is completely untrue," he said in a statement today.
Noor Azman clarified that every FIFA member association, including FAM, was allocated a ticket purchase quota for the 2022 World Cup matches.
However, he said FAM purchased only 92 tickets from a maximum allocation of 290.
"As stated in FIFA's letter dated June 17, 2022, the ticket allocation was intended for purchase by members of the Executive Committee, FAM affiliates, sponsors and related stakeholders.
"Based on the number of purchase requests received, FAM only purchased 92 tickets, comprising 72 for the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, and third-place playoff, and 20 for the opening match, semi-finals, and final," he said.
He added that FAM has never sold World Cup tickets to Malaysian football fans and supporters, including for the 2022 World Cup edition. - BERNAMA