AFC to monitor Malaysian football body for two years

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has placed the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) under a two-year monitoring period, signaling a concerted effort to guide the national football body back toward effective development.

Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, the AFC's Secretary General, stated that during this time, FAM is required to submit comprehensive reports every three months. These reports will detail the changes and improvements being implemented across all its departments. John emphasized that the AFC's action is not punitive but rather a measure to ensure FAM fulfills its role in advancing football within Malaysia.

"FAM must submit reports every three months, and we (AFC) will monitor them for two years. This was discussed with FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) previously," John explained. He added that the monitoring stems from past issues, with FIFA seeking to ensure FAM rebuilds its image and reclaims its core objectives.

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FAM must submit reports every three months, and we (AFC) will monitor them for two years. This was discussed with FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) previously.

When questioned about the potential placement of AFC representatives within FAM, John clarified that such a move is unnecessary. The focus will be on FAM's adherence to reporting requirements. This situation presents a significant challenge for the new leadership of FAM, set to be elected in September, as they will be tasked with rectifying the numerous problems plaguing the organization.

Recent findings revealed by the AFC during an Extraordinary Congress highlighted FAM's struggles with governance, accountability, and overall management. The AFC's assessment indicated that most departments operate at a low maturity level, scoring between 1.2 and 1.8 on a five-stage scale. Critically, several key functions rely heavily on individuals rather than robust systems, posing a substantial risk to operational continuity.

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This is based on what happened, so they (FIFA) want to ensure FAM returns with a better image and also achieves the objectives that the parent body should play.