KUALA LUMPUR – Tensions are escalating at Wisma FAM as nine executive committee members resist plans for a mass resignation, throwing the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) reform programme into uncertainty.
Sources said the deadlock came to a head during a marathon meeting that lasted from morning until evening today, where newly elected members voiced objections to stepping down so soon after their election.
The resignations were intended to pave the way for an Asian Football Confederation (AFC)-led overhaul of governance, finances, legal frameworks and administrative structures.
A highly placed source in the football fraternity told Scoop that the protests have left FAM’s leadership in disarray.
“Things are heating up at Wisma FAM. To be exact, nine executive committee members have openly protested and are not prepared to give in or join a mass resignation,” the source said.
The source added that the group had ignored advice from both the acting president and the honorary president, who urged a unified resignation to protect the association from sanctions and enable smooth reforms.
“Many of them feel they have a mandate to serve and are unwilling to be made scapegoats. The president is now left in a dilemma on how to handle the situation,” the source said.
Previously, all FAM executive committee members were expected to resign to allow the AFC to implement a restructuring plan.
The AFC will not take direct control but will provide support through a special task force, working closely with the FAM secretary-general, treasurer and selected department directors over several months.
Financial transactions will be strictly controlled to ensure transparency.
The task force is expected to review FAM’s entire ecosystem, including governance, finances, statutes, legal affairs, congress procedures and electoral mechanisms, before any final decisions are made.
A new congress will then be convened to elect FAM’s leadership afresh. The process is expected to take between four and eight months.
Scrutiny of FAM intensified last year after FIFA imposed sanctions for breaches of Article 22, relating to falsified documents for seven naturalised players — Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Héctor Hevel.
In November, FIFA dismissed appeals from both FAM and the players. The association was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM1.8 million), while each player received a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (around RM10,600) and a 12-month ban from football-related activities.
However, the bans were lifted today after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) granted provisional relief, allowing the players to resume football-related activities while their appeals remain under review. CAS is expected to issue a final ruling at a later date.
FAM was also ordered to pay an additional 10,000 Swiss francs (around RM51,400), and Malaysia’s results in three international friendlies were annulled, with 3–0 victories awarded to Cape Verde, Singapore and Palestine.
Complications continue for Harimau Malaya, as the AFC is expected to deduct points from Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign pending FAM’s CAS appeal. Matches under review include Malaysia’s 2–0 win over Nepal on March 25 and the 4–0 victory against Vietnam on June 10. – January 27, 2026