Malaysian football faces another blow ahead of AFC ruling

An outburst of anger from Malaysian football fans erupted at the 2025 People's Football Conference, demanding the entire FAM Executive Committee resign as a consequence of years of lost trust.

The 2025 People's Football Conference, gathering a large number of fans, experts, and sports observers from across Malaysia, reached a landmark consensus: calling for the entire Malaysian Football Association Executive Committee to resign and pave the way for a full-scale reform. This move reflects the deep frustration of fans over prolonged issues in national football management.

During the seminar, many expressed that the matter no longer concerns just replacing a few individuals but requires a complete overhaul of the governing system. “When we once asked ‘FAM president, please resign’, it was not a sudden emotional outburst but a well-considered decision. Who needs to be replaced is less important than ensuring necessary actions are taken”, emphasized fan Alfadli Awaludin.

According to him, the conference does not have the authority to appoint new leaders but can clearly state demands that any leadership must fulfill.

One key agreement was to submit a memorandum to the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports, requesting a thorough investigation into FAM’s operations and considering suspending the organization under Article 20 of the Sports Development Act 1997.

“We want the Ministry to urge FAM to dissolve all current committees and replace them with more transparent and honest ones. The biggest question now is whether the Minister dares to take action”, Alfadli stated.

From a professional viewpoint, Malaysian football analyst Zakaria Rahim believes this is a critical moment for change. “The Ministry should be ready to listen to fans’ opinions because they are the direct stakeholders of Malaysian football. What is happening, if viewed positively, is the best opportunity to improve the football ecosystem, especially at FAM’s management level”, he analyzed.

Fan frustration grew further when findings from the Independent Investigation Committee established by FAM were released. The 59-page report highlighted numerous serious violations in the player naturalization process, from document verification to administrative control, leading to sanctions from FIFA.

“There were grave errors in oversight and control by FAM leadership, allowing the scandal to occur without timely detection”, the Independent Investigation Committee concluded.

These revelations are seen as the last straw, turning the 2025 People's Football Conference into the most outspoken public forum ever held by Malaysian fans demanding a genuine overhaul to restore trust and the future of national football.

Amid rising criticism and calls for reform, Malaysian football is anxiously awaiting the final verdict from the AFC. The upcoming decision will not only affect specific penalties but could also determine the future of Malaysia’s football governance system in the next phase.