“I’m deeply disappointed after seeing what is happening, especially in relation to the facilities and equipment there.

“What is more saddening is that some players have to go hungry as the food served here did not meet the requirements,” he told reporters after a surprise visit to the football academy in Gambang near here today.

He also said that the lack of footballs has affected the training and subsequently the performance of the players.

Syed Saddiq, who spent more than two hours at the site, visited the academy following a dialogue with Malaysian football fans in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He was told to carry out an audit on allocations provided for the National Football Development Programme.

On the 740 building defects and damage found at AMD, the minister said the Public Works Department would call the main contractor for the construction of the academy on Oct 10.

Syed Saddiq said the ministry would also conduct a thorough investigation, including lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.