The local football governing body’s secretary-general Hamidin Mohd Amin told the daily that they would take necessary precautions as match-fixing was a global threat.

“It will definitely be an uphill task. But with rigorous support from local law enforcement agencies and an integrity system in place, we expect to maintain our integrity in the sport at the highest level,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.

Some 84 Malaysian football players were banned from the game in 1994 after being implicated in a match-fixing scandal in the 1993-1994 season of the Malaysian football league. Some of them were suspended from playing while others banished under the Restricted Residence Act.

Six players received lifetime bans. They have since put up several appeals, including one on April 8 this year.

“FAM, upon consultation with FIFA, AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) permitted these players to be involved in football activities in the country with any football association, clubs and football teams, subject to integrity checks.

“On the six players who are serving lifetime bans, we will appeal to the AFC and FIFA to lift their sentences.

I’ve watched them play and they were good footballers at the time,” Hamidin was quoted saying.

According to Hamidin, FAM’s integrity committee, which was set up in 2010, has formulated awareness programmes involving players, officials and coaches, supported by the state FA’s respective integrity committee.

Malaysia is now ranked 174 by FIFA, its worst position ever.