KUALA LUMPUR — A plan to revive the footballing rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore could be undermined by corruption and match-fixing, a former top official warned.
Peter Velappan, Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) general secretary until 2007, on Thursday hailed Singapore's return to the Malaysia Cup from next year after a near two decade absence, but warned bookmakers may benefit as well as fans.
But Velappan, who led the AFC for 30 years, said a "football mafia" based in Southeast Asian countries is well entrenched and needs tough government, police and club action to stamp out its influence -- worth "billions of dollars". Full story
