FAM executive committee quits four months after Fifa sanctions, AFC to help lead association

PETALING JAYA: All members of the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) executive committee resigned today, four months after the national body and seven players were sanctioned by Fifa over the 'doctored documentation' scandal. FAM acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi announced the decision at a press conference at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya this afternoon. He said the decision was effective immediately, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) set to help run the association alongside FAM secretary general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman and the treasurer Datuk Ismail Karim. AFC’s deputy general secretary Vahid Kardany will head the management team for the next three months. The move comes two days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed for the seven players involved to resume playing following a successful application for a stay of execution. The seven are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano. Yusoff said the executive committee recognised the importance of collective responsibility and the need to act in a manner that protects the integrity and standing of the association.

He added that the resignations are intended to serve the following objectives:

• To safeguard the reputation and institutional interests of FAM and to mitigate the risk of further adverse consequences that could affect Malaysian football as a whole.

• To uphold the principles of good governance and accountability, particularly in circumstances where public confidence must be preserved.

• To provide the appropriate space for Fifaand the AFC to independently assess, review, and, where necessary, address governance, administrative, and procedural matters within FAM.

* To ensure that any necessary reforms may be undertaken without distraction or perceived conflicts, and with a renewed basis of trust.

• To demonstrate that service to Malaysian football takes precedence over tenure of office, notwithstanding the four-year mandate granted for the 2025–2029 term, which has been relinquished voluntarily after 11 months.

• To restore confidence among supporters, stakeholders, partners, and the wider football community. Maintaining institutional credibility is essential to the stability, sustainability, and future development of Malaysian football.

The outgoing Executive Committee affirms its full cooperation with Fifa, the AFC, and all relevant stakeholders, and reiterates its commitment to the long-term interests of Malaysian football.

Asked why the executive committee decided to resign at this stage, Yusoff said: “We have had discussions for several months. We have now reached a consensus to quit FAM. It is not an admission of guilt. We want to do what is right for the association.” On Sept 26, 2025, Fifa's Disciplinary Committee imposed sanctions on FAM and the players for breaches of Article 22 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code, relating to forgery and falsification. Fifa said FAM had submitted eligibility enquiries using doctored documentation to field the players. FAM was fined CHF 350,000, while each player was fined CHF 2,000 and handed a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification. On Nov 3, the Fifa Appeal Committee dismissed FAM's appeal against the sanctions imposed on the national body and the seven players. FAM then wrote to Fifa to obtain the full details and written reasons for the ruling, before submitting a statement of appeal to CAS to challenge the sanctions on Dec 8. A week later, FAM's Independent Investigation Committee concluded that it could not conclusively determine who falsified the players' documents and recommended that a police report be filed. FAM subsequently filed a police report on Dec 24, and police have since identified two suspects believed to be involved in the forgery of documents submitted to Fifa.