KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian football stands at a crossroads, and Youth and Sports Minister Dr.Taufiq Johari believes sweeping leadership changes within the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) could be the catalyst needed to steer the national game out of crisis and back towards credibility.
With FAM set to usher in a new executive council following the mass resignation of its 2025–2029 committee in January, Taufiq expressed hope that a refreshed leadership structure would inject renewed direction and accountability into the governing body.
“FAM will be appointing new executive council members, and I hope this will enable us to work together in addressing existing weaknesses,” he told reporters in a press conference at Putrajaya today.
“I have never given up on the development of Malaysian football, and I remain hopeful that we can restore its former glory.”
The anticipated elections, expected to take place in August or September, come at a turbulent time for Malaysian football, which has been grappling with both administrative and reputational setbacks on the international stage.
Last September, FAM — along with seven naturalised players — was sanctioned by FIFA after it was found to have submitted falsified documentation to verify player eligibility ahead of Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam in June.
The players involved — Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Manchuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel — initially received 12-month suspensions from all football-related activities.
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later ruled that the ban would apply only to official matches.
CAS also upheld FIFA’s fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM1.8 million), dismissing FAM’s appeal and deeming the punishment justified and proportionate.
Further compounding the fallout, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) imposed a points deduction on Malaysia after determining that ineligible players had been fielded in qualifiers against Nepal and Vietnam — effectively ending the Harimau Malaya’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup for a second consecutive time.
Despite the damage to Malaysia’s international standing, Taufiq remains optimistic about the future, stressing that meaningful reform — particularly in governance — is essential to rebuilding trust and restoring competitiveness.
He emphasised that regaining public confidence must begin at the grassroots level, pointing to initiatives such as the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) as key pillars in long-term recovery.
“What matters most is how we move forward in rebuilding the national team. Good governance is critical, supported by a strong system and reinforced through existing development programmes,” he said. - April 4, 2026
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