Malaysia establishes a new organization following the citizenship scandal

Following the citizenship controversy which caused FIFA to impose severe sanctions, FAM has resolved to set up an autonomous organization aimed at enhancing governance, avoiding repeated errors, and rehabilitating Malaysia's football credibility.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) recently announced the formation of an independent committee on governance and administration, designed to increase transparency and prevent similar violations in the future. This move comes after FAM and seven naturalized players were penalized by FIFA for breaching regulations related to international match registration procedures.

This information was confirmed by FAM Vice President, Datuk S. Sivasundaram, during a press conference held at the Wisma FAM headquarters. He emphasized that establishing the independent committee is a crucial step towards restoring the Federation’s reputation while ensuring all operations comply with the highest global football standards.

“FAM has set up an independent governance and administrative committee to conduct a thorough review of the internal system, aiming to prevent the recurrence of errors like the recent incident,” stated Mr. Sivasundaram. “We are committed to improving the management structure to align with international standards.”

Also during the press conference, Mr. Sivasundaram announced that FAM Secretary General, Datuk Noor Azman Haji Rahman, has been suspended with immediate effect. This decision was made to allow the independent committee to conduct an impartial investigation, clarify the causes of the incident, and determine the responsibilities of the individuals and departments involved.

The incident, which led to heavy sanctions from FIFA on FAM, sparked widespread criticism among the Malaysian public, with many accusing the association of lacking control and transparency in the documentation process for naturalized players. This event not only damaged FAM’s reputation but also raised questions about player management within Malaysian football overall.

Experts say that establishing the independent committee is a positive step demonstrating FAM’s willingness to reform. However, what fans truly expect are concrete actions and a transparent investigation outcome to regain the lost trust.

If implemented sincerely, this move could mark a turning point in rebuilding Malaysian football, aiming towards a more professional, ethical, and sustainable football environment in the future.