Malaysia's Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Football Association of Malaysia General Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad both expressed surprise about the action of secretive London-based Gifted Group Limited, the promoter of the G-14-backed Champions Youth Cup, to take football's world body FIFA to court. Both said GGL should have waited for FIFA's executive committee to decide on whether to sanction the CYC when it meets in Zurich, Switzerland.
"I only came to know of their action through the media. I’m totally surprised as I was made to understand that FIFA is going to give an answer on the sanction for the CYC by Saturday," the Minister said yesterday. The Sports and Tourism ministries are the main sponsors of the CYC, having paid RM17 million for the staging rights of the CYC, which is part of Malaysia’s 50th Independence Day celebrations.
"I only came to know of their action through the media. I’m totally surprised as I was made to understand that FIFA is going to give an answer on the sanction for the CYC by Saturday," the Minister said yesterday. The Sports and Tourism ministries are the main sponsors of the CYC, having paid RM17 million for the staging rights of the CYC, which is part of Malaysia’s 50th Independence Day celebrations.