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.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman addressed the claim made by a veteran journalist in a recent article on a local news portal, stating that the allegations are unfounded. Noor Azman emphasized that FAM did not receive any complimentary tickets from FIFA for the 2022 World Cup matches, despite being a member association of FIFA.

Noor Azman further clarified that each FIFA member association, including FAM, was allocated a ticket purchase quota for the 2022 World Cup matches. However, FAM only purchased 92 tickets out of a maximum allocation of 290. These purchases were made based on requests from members of the Executive Committee, FAM affiliates, sponsors, and related stakeholders.

He detailed that of the 92 tickets purchased, 72 were for the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, and third-place playoff, while 20 were for the opening match, semi-finals, and final. Noor Azman also noted that FAM has never sold World Cup tickets to Malaysian football fans and supporters, including for the 2022 World Cup edition.