The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has placed the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) under strict surveillance for the next two years to ensure the national football governing body corrects systemic failures and returns to its proper track.

The drastic intervention follows a series of shocking internal revelations brought to light during FAM’s Extraordinary Congress held at a prominent hotel in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

The congress, which was heavily attended by local sports media, saw all 18 affiliate members unanimously approved amendments to 11 articles of the FAM Statute proposed by the AFC to rectify years of administrative mismanagement.

A Toxic Culture and Systemic Failures Exposed

The Extraordinary Congress became a focal point for Malaysian sports after a comprehensive internal audit report from the AFC was presented by AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany.

Rather than minor cosmetic adjustments, the findings exposed deeply rooted internal issues, poor accountability, and structural weaknesses within FAM.

According to the evaluation, most departments within FAM scored dismally, ranking only at “Level 2” or “Pre-Intermediate” on an organizational maturity scale of one to five.

The report revealed that critical operational functions heavily depended on specific individuals rather than structured systems, creating severe long-term operational risks.

Speaking to the media, AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John revealed that FAM had repeatedly failed to present its financial budgets to delegates over recent years following a prior statutory amendment. While FAM officials cited technical excuses, Windsor firmly labelled it a major governance failure.

“Transparency in the inflow and outflow of money is a fundamental right that delegates must know,” Windsor emphasized, explaining the immediate need for the statutory overhaul.

Furthermore, the internal audit exposed a toxic workplace culture where FAM staff members operated in fear, reluctant to speak out due to anxieties over retaliation from top management.

Stripping Absolute Power and Rebalancing Staff

To address these corporate malfunctions, the AFC is spearheading a structural reorganization. A core focus will involve empowering hired professionals—such as department directors—and reducing the absolute authority previously held by Committee Chairmen.

Windsor noted that daily operational tasks would be shifted away from political chairmen back to professional staff. “Previously, the Chairman held more power than the Director, who was only a director in name. That is incorrect. You hire professionals, let them do their jobs,” he stated.

The audit also uncovered baffling instances of staffing mismatches, pointing out that critical departments like Human Resources (HR) were actively being run by individuals coming from Information Technology (IT) backgrounds.

Instead of recommending retrenchments, the AFC will utilize internal audits to realign existing staff according to their actual qualifications.

Excess personnel from overstaffed departments will be transferred to understaffed sectors to streamline heavy documentation workloads, with the AFC’s own HR team deployed on-site to facilitate the transition.

Quarterly Performance Appraisals Until 2028

To ensure these mandates are fully realized, the AFC, in coordination with football’s world governing body FIFA, will monitor FAM meticulously over a two-year window. FAM is legally obligated to compile and submit comprehensive progress reports to the AFC every three months.

“FAM must send a report every three months, and we (AFC) will monitor them for two years,” Windsor confirmed during the post-congress press conference. “This is based on what has transpired, and FIFA wants to ensure FAM returns with a better image and achieves the objectives a governing body is supposed to play.”

Windsor clarified that the AFC feels there is no immediate requirement to embed a physical representative inside the FAM offices, as the mandatory quarterly reporting system will provide adequate transparency.

This strict probationary period places an immense burden on the shoulders of the upcoming FAM leadership framework, which is scheduled to be elected this coming September.

The newly elected office bearers will face the immediate, monumental task of “cleaning up” the organizational damage to restore public trust and stabilize Malaysian football.