Azmin resigns from 'excessive politicking, subsidy mentality' FAS

SHAH ALAM: Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (pic) has resigned as the president of the Football Association of Selangor (FAS).

Following suit is Amirudin Shari, the executive councillor for youth development and sports, who resigned as the team's manager.

Azmin said in a statement Friday that after two years at the helm of the association, both he and Amirudin did not see any willingness on the part of the FAS exco members to embrace change.

According to Azmin, the FAS exco was still tied to the old culture of 'excessive politics, old-fashioned way of doing things and over dependency on subsidy mentality.'

"Matter of fact till today, the FAS executive line-up has failed to forward a strategic plan to manage Selangor's fotball including having a professional administration as recommended by the Football Association of Malaysia in 2008," he said.

Instead, the FAS exco continued to be mired in "irresponsible politics" and this had "disappointed the football fans and supporters."

"Because of this YB Amirudin Shari and I have decided not to remain with an incompetent organisation and management which is not committed to an agenda of change to ensure glory for Selangor football," he said.

He said the state government would support and build the development of football in the state through a new method that would be determined later.

"We guarantee Selangor's football fans that the glory of football will be upheld through a clean management with integrity," said Azmin.

He said the close cooperation between the new leadership, comprising him and Amirudin, had succeeded in qualifying the Selangor team for the Malaysia Cup tournament in 2015 and 2016 after a 10-year gap.

It is believed Azmin's issue with the FAS exco stems from his stance to not fund the team's campaign for the upcoming M-League.

It is learnt that Azmin had apparently told the executive committee that they must be independent and seek their own funds for the new football season instead of depending on the state.

Selangor Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had also aired his concerns over the troubles plaguing the FAS.

The Crown Prince stated on his Facebook and Instagram account that the recent news and development in FAS were worrisome.

"I have also personally read the plight and comments from the fans of the Red Giants on my social media platforms who share the same concern as me," Tengku Amir had said recently.

The FAS had also recently lost several top notch players such as striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri and team captain Mohd Sharom Kalam to other teams.