KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was originally founded as the Malayan Football Association (MFA) on Sept 11, 1926, during a conference held at the Selangor Club Field.
Five state associations – Selangor, Perak, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Singapore – became its founding members, envisioning the need for a governing body to regulate football in Malaya.
From its colonial beginnings under John Middleton Sime, a Scottish accountant tied to the Sime Darby family, to Tunku Abdul Rahman becoming the first local president in 1951 and later a driving force behind the formation of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), FAM has shaped Malaysian football for nearly a century.
Over the decades, FAM oversaw iconic moments including Malaysia’s Olympic appearances in 1972 and 1980, the glory of the Merdeka Tournament, the launch of the semi-pro league in 1989, the transition to professional football in 1994, and Malaysia co-hosting the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1997 and the AFC Asian Cup in 2007.
The modern era has seen landmark achievements such as Harimau Malaya winning the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 after 43 years, and the launch of F:30, FAM’s long-term roadmap.
Now, with Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi serving as acting president following leadership changes earlier this year, FAM stands on the threshold of its centenary – a symbolic moment for Malaysian football. – September 11, 2025