Former Malaysian Secretary General accused of misunderstanding FAM regulations

A Malaysian sports lawyer criticized the former FAM Secretary General, asserting that he misunderstood the FAM regulations when discussing the handover of administrative control after the leadership turmoil.

A Malaysian sports lawyer, Zhafri Aminurrashid, publicly rebutted the statements made by the former Secretary General of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Seri Azzuddin Ahmad. He believes that Mr. Azzuddin is misinterpreting the FAM bylaws regarding management after the entire Executive Committee (Exco) resigned collectively.

Previously, Mr. Azzuddin questioned the Exco’s decision to temporarily assign administrative authority to Secretary General Datuk Noor Azman Hj. Rahman and Treasurer Datuk Ismail Karim. He also noted that this is the first time a football association like FAM has had to undergo “guidance/supervision” from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

In response, lawyer Zhafri emphasized that the Exco’s actions comply with Article 38 of the statutes. According to his argument, this clause clearly states that if more than 50% of Exco positions become vacant, the Secretary General is responsible for calling an extraordinary general meeting within the specified timeframe. Therefore, maintaining the Secretary General’s role is essential to ensure FAM adheres to regulations during restructuring and image restoration.

Zhafri also argued that Mr. Azzuddin’s comments about the AFC’s role are inaccurate and misleading, as the AFC regularly implements monitoring, auditing, and governance support programs for member associations. According to him, such processes are not “unusual” nor “punitive,” but part of a modern football ecosystem aimed at improving governance standards.

In related developments, after the collective resignation of the FAM Exco leadership, the AFC dispatched a special working group led by Deputy Secretary General Vahid Kardany to conduct an assessment. This team is expected to comprehensively evaluate FAM’s governance structure over three months before presenting their report at the FAM Congress, paving the way for new leadership elections.

The entire resignation of the FAM Exco is seen as an effort to restore fans’ trust amid ongoing issues related to management, performance, and controversies over naturalized players in Malaysian football.