The 56-year-old received the official letter at his office at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya on Friday and has until April 12 to respond to the charge made against him.
If found guilty, he could be suspended for six months and fined RM8,000.
Rajagopal had landed himself in hot water for allegedly commenting in his post-match press conference – after the national team’s 4-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in a friendly on March 17 – that the lack of local strikers in the M-League was due to the presence of foreign professionals.
The FAM had construed this as criticising the national league.
Initially, the FAM had intended to charge Rajagopal under Article 88 – which allows only the president and general secretary to comment on policy matters and the national team.
On March 28, FAM disciplinary committee chairman Datuk Taufik Tan Sri Abdul Razak had said: “There is a case to charge Rajagopal under Article 88 … as it seems that he has criticised FAM’s policies and the charge sheet will be sent to him next week.”
Two days later, FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad alleged that it (the charge) could be part of a conspiracy to kick Rajagopal out, contending that the media might have been used by certain parties within the FAM to undermine the national coach.
However, a couple of days later, Azzuddin said that his statement had been misconstrued.
And now this.
Whatever happens, Rajagopal will have to face the music.
By ERIC SAMUEL and SHAMSHUL FITRI/The Star
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