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FAM’s exco steps down
5 hours ago
Jason Thomas
Acting president Yusoff Mahadi says the move is to protect the football association's integrity and reputation
FAM acting president Yusoff Mahadi (left) and AFC general-secretary Windsor John during a press conference at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya today.
PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) executive committee has resigned with immediate effect in a bid to avert a Fifa suspension in light of the ongoing fiasco involving seven naturalised players.
FAM acting president Yusoff Mahadi said the committee was resigning to uphold the principles of good governance and accountability, particularly in circumstances where public confidence must be preserved.
Yusoff said the decision had been made unanimously, and that FAM general-secretary Noor Azman Rahman would continue overseeing FAM’s daily operations with the help of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
He said the committee wanted to provide Fifa and AFC with the space to independently assess, review, and, where necessary, address governance, administrative and procedural matters in FAM.
“We are doing this to protect FAM’s integrity and reputation… in light of recent developments that have attracted significant public attention and external scrutiny,” Yusoff told a press conference at Wisma FAM today.
“The committee wants to ensure that any necessary reforms may be undertaken without distraction or perceived conflicts, and with a renewed basis of trust.
“Maintaining institutional credibility is essential to the stability, sustainability and future development of Malaysian football.”
He added that the executive committee recognised the importance of collective responsibility and the need to act in a manner that protects the integrity and standing of the association.
AFC general-secretary Windsor John said AFC had been invited to assist FAM in conducting a comprehensive evaluation of several internal aspects, including administration, management and other football-related matters.
He said AFC would form a team led by AFC deputy secretary-general Vahid Kardany to carry out the evaluation and prepare a report to strengthen FAM as an association.
“The evaluation will involve benchmarking FAM against modern football associations to identify gaps and areas requiring improvement,” he said at the press conference.
Windsor added that AFC would conduct an analysis and table a report to stakeholders.
He said AFC would need a minimum of three months to evaluate FAM’s administration and operations, after which it would work with FAM on the reforms to be introduced.
FAM and seven naturalised Malaysian footballers were penalised by Fifa last September after the world football body said FAM submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility before Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam in June.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification.
Fifa announced on Nov 3 that it had rejected FAM’s appeal against its sanctions, prompting the association to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FAM said yesterday that CAS had granted the application for a stay of execution submitted by the players, allowing them to continue their careers and take part in football-related activities until CAS reaches a final decision on the appeal.
FAM acting president Yusoff Mahadi said the committee was resigning to uphold the principles of good governance and accountability, particularly in circumstances where public confidence must be preserved.
Yusoff said the decision had been made unanimously, and that FAM general-secretary Noor Azman Rahman would continue overseeing FAM’s daily operations with the help of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
He said the committee wanted to provide Fifa and AFC with the space to independently assess, review, and, where necessary, address governance, administrative and procedural matters in FAM.
“We are doing this to protect FAM’s integrity and reputation… in light of recent developments that have attracted significant public attention and external scrutiny,” Yusoff told a press conference at Wisma FAM today.
“The committee wants to ensure that any necessary reforms may be undertaken without distraction or perceived conflicts, and with a renewed basis of trust.
“Maintaining institutional credibility is essential to the stability, sustainability and future development of Malaysian football.”
He added that the executive committee recognised the importance of collective responsibility and the need to act in a manner that protects the integrity and standing of the association.
AFC general-secretary Windsor John said AFC had been invited to assist FAM in conducting a comprehensive evaluation of several internal aspects, including administration, management and other football-related matters.
He said AFC would form a team led by AFC deputy secretary-general Vahid Kardany to carry out the evaluation and prepare a report to strengthen FAM as an association.
“The evaluation will involve benchmarking FAM against modern football associations to identify gaps and areas requiring improvement,” he said at the press conference.
Windsor added that AFC would conduct an analysis and table a report to stakeholders.
He said AFC would need a minimum of three months to evaluate FAM’s administration and operations, after which it would work with FAM on the reforms to be introduced.
FAM and seven naturalised Malaysian footballers were penalised by Fifa last September after the world football body said FAM submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility before Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam in June.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification.
Fifa announced on Nov 3 that it had rejected FAM’s appeal against its sanctions, prompting the association to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FAM said yesterday that CAS had granted the application for a stay of execution submitted by the players, allowing them to continue their careers and take part in football-related activities until CAS reaches a final decision on the appeal.
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