Kuala lumpur: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has denied claims that its administration will be taken over by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) through a normalisation committee. The reports came amid separate allegations that members of FAM's Executive Committee (Exco) would resign en masse as early as next week.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, FAM's acting president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi stated that a normalisation committee is only established to assist associations that have been suspended. He explained that even if resignations occur, the AFC would only be involved to provide assistance and advice, not to take over the administration. Mohd Yusoff also mentioned that an Exco meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday to address the matter of the alleged mass resignation.
Meanwhile, the AFC has also denied any plans to intervene and run the FAM through a normalisation committee. AFC secretary general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John clarified that the AFC does not have the authority to take over another association's administration. He noted that while the AFC could offer support to FAM, any assistance would be contingent on the specific issues and needs of the governing body.
The challenges facing FAM began in September of the previous year when FIFA confirmed that FAM and seven players were found to have violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The investigation revealed that FAM had submitted falsified documents to certify the eligibility of the players, which allowed them to participate in a 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers last June.
As a result of the ruling, FAM was fined CHF 350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million), and each player received a fine of CHF 2,000 (around RM11,000), along with a 12-month suspension from football-related activities. FAM is currently awaiting the outcome of its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA's Appeal Committee upheld the initial ruling on the violation.
The issue of falsified documents has damaged FAM's reputation and led to a loss of trust among supporters, prompting calls for the leadership to step down.