KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is giving the FA of Malaysia (FAM) breathing space to steady its ship under new leadership following its extraordinary congress on Sept 17.
The national body will have to submit quarterly progress reports for the next two years as part of efforts to ensure the implementation of governance reforms recommended in the AFC's audit.
AFC general secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John said FAM is being given time to settle down under its new leadership.
"For now, we are allowing FAM to settle down after its congress," he said.
Under the programme, FAM is required to submit progress reports to ensure the planned reforms are implemented. The AFC has stressed that the monitoring as an effort to help FAM improve its governance rather than punish the organisation.
FAM's administrative overhaul began in January when members of its executive committee (exco) for the 2025-2029 term resigned collectively following sanctions imposed by FIFA against FAM and seven players in 2025 over falsified documents.
In June, FAM approved amendments to its statutes proposed by the AFC to strengthen governance, including changes to the exco structure, vice-president positions, and representation in decision-making.
Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan was elected FAM president to serve the remainder of the 2025-2029 term, with the new leadership tasked with restoring confidence and ensuring the reforms translate into a more transparent and effective administration.
Asked whether FIFA was still investigating FAM over the heritage player issue, Windsor said he had no information on the status of the matter.
"I have no information about the FIFA investigation," he said.
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