PETALING JAYA: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman has confirmed that the findings of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) investigations on the seven mixed-heritage players will be tabled at the first executive committee meeting under the new leadership after September’s Congress election.
“This is not a decision I can make arbitrarily,” Noor Azman said at a press conference held at the Hilton Hotel here yesterday.
“It will be tabled at the first exco meeting under the newly elected leadership. This is precisely why the upcoming elections are critical — we need experienced individuals who understand the current footballing landscape and the realities FAM face.”
The seven players at the centre of the controversy are individuals of mixed heritage whose eligibility was scrutinised following investigations by the Independent Commission, the Royal Malaysia Police and FIFA.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport subsequently handed down fines and suspensions, and Noor Azman was unequivocal that FAM had cooperated fully throughout.
“Our biggest challenge was laying everything bare. We hid nothing and maintained absolute transparency,” he said.
“The AFC and FIFA representatives even commended our staff for their honesty. Domestically, the matter is resolved and we fully comply with the sanctions imposed.”
Noor Azman also defended FAM’s decision to invite FIFA and the AFC to conduct a comprehensive quality audit of the association, describing it as unprecedented in Malaysian football governance.
“FAM are perhaps the only association bold enough to open their doors and allow public scrutiny into their internal shortcomings,” he said.
“Once the final report is ready, we will present it transparently to our affiliates, observers and the media.”
He acknowledged that implementing the AFC’s organisational proposals would require careful financial deliberation.
FAM operate on an annual budget of approximately RM40mil to RM50mil, and any new staffing structure would need to be weighed against available resources.
Addressing supporters who have called for a boycott of national team matches, Noor Azman urged patience, noting that as a caretaker administrator he lacked the mandate to make policy-defining decisions, and that dialogue with supporter groups would be deferred to the incoming president and exco.
He closed with a plea for public solidarity as FAM set their sights on a two-year reform horizon.
“I appeal to everyone — the media, the fans — to give us confidence rather than pressure. We are determined to rebuild, and that resurgence begins with getting our structure right.”
