Malaysian Football Association's Executive Resigns Amid FIFA Sanctions

Post by : Mina Rahman

In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Malaysian football, the entire executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced their resignation on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. This follows significant upheaval surrounding the naturalization of seven foreign-born players.

The committee, elected just 11 months ago for the 2025–2029 term, stepped down unanimously and immediately. Their move, described as voluntary, reflects a commitment to protect the integrity and credibility of Malaysian football.

This mass resignation occurred in the wake of FIFA's harsh penalties imposed on the FAM. In September 2025, FIFA fined the association around $450,000 and handed one-year bans to the seven players involved after determining that falsified documents had been presented for their eligibility to play for Malaysia. Each player faced individual fines as well.

The players in question—Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Héctor Hevel—hail from Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain. They have represented Malaysia in international matches, including a recent 2027 Asian Cup qualifying game in which Malaysia triumphed over Vietnam.

Malaysian football officials had firmly argued that the players met FIFA's eligibility criteria, asserting each had a grandparent born in Malaysia. However, FIFA's investigation uncovered original documentation from the players’ native countries that contradicted these assertions, prompting disciplinary action.

In its public statement, FAM expressed that their resignation before the completion of the four-year term underscores a commitment to the well-being of Malaysian football over personal ambitions. They declared this move essential to preserve their reputation and mitigate additional harm to the sport.

The resignation also aims to facilitate a thorough review by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation of FAM’s governance and administrative procedures without any conflict of interest. FAM underscored the importance of collective accountability in maintaining institutional integrity.

The outgoing committee pledged full cooperation with global football authorities to restore trust among fans, stakeholders, and the wider football community. Currently, no timeline for interim leadership or new elections has been provided.

Acting FAM president Mohamad Yusoff Mahadi confirmed that secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman will continue to oversee daily operations. A special congress will likely be held to appoint a new executive committee.

In the meantime, FAM is engaged in a legal battle against FIFA. Following the rejection of its initial appeal, the association has taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. On January 27, 2026, FAM reported that the court had temporarily lifted the FIFA-imposed bans on the seven players, allowing them to participate while the appeal is being reviewed. A final verdict has not yet been set.

This unprecedented resignation marks a pivotal governance crisis in Malaysian football, placing the sport’s future trajectory under global scrutiny.

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