KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) says it has taken disciplinary action involving several staff members after an internal investigation found that correspondence from FIFA relating to proceedings under the world governing body's Clearing House Regulations had been overlooked.
In its first public response after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision circulated, JDT chief executive officer Luis Garcia said the club's senior management was unaware of the matter until an internal investigation was conducted.
Garcia said the investigation identified shortcomings in how the club handled FIFA correspondence and that it had taken action in response.
"The club's higher management were unaware of the matter and upon internal investigation we have discovered that correspondence with FIFA regarding the matter was overlooked," Garcia said in a statement late Thursday.
"We have identified several individuals responsible and have taken necessary action."
Addressing the financial penalty, Garcia described the 2.5 per cent levy imposed across 31 payment orders as a "dismissive amount", while stressing that the club regarded the administrative lapse seriously.
"Though the 2.5 per cent levy imposed may be a dismissive amount, JDT takes it seriously that matters cannot be overlooked and will ensure there are no similar occurrences in the future," Garcia added.
The statement provides an explanation for JDT's failure to submit a response before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee issued its decision on Sept 22.
On Thursday, Timesport reported that FIFA had imposed a 2.5 per cent levy across 31 payment orders after JDT failed to complete a mandatory compliance assessment under the FIFA Clearing House Regulations.
According to the decision, the matter involved training compensation totalling €44,878.68 (RM215,000) owed to youth and developmental clubs. The levy amounted to approximately €1,122 (RM5,400).
The payment orders related to the international transfers of Colombian forward Jorge Obregon from Croatia's HNK Rijeka and Brazilian-born striker Joao Figueiredo from Turkiye's RAMS Basaksehir.
Under FIFA's regulations, clubs are required to undergo compliance checks before the clearing house can process the relevant payments.
The assessment covers requirements including anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and compliance with international sanctions.
In its decision, the committee said the failure to complete the assessment within the stipulated timeframe had delayed the training clubs' receipt of their compensation. It imposed the levy as a substitute for interest on the late payments.
The decision also recorded that JDT had not submitted a reply within the deadline provided before the sanction was imposed.
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