Sports lawyer: 'AFC overseeing FAM is nothing to be ashamed of'

Recently, Malaysian football has been at the center of controversy as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially began monitoring the activities of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

Many opinions consider this a "stain" or even an insult to the national football scene. However, according to sports lawyer Zhafri Aminurashid, this perspective is biased and lacks context. Speaking to the media, Zhafri Aminurashid emphasized that the AFC's involvement in FAM is not at all a form of punishment or a sign that Malaysian football is in an unprecedented crisis. On the contrary, this is a standard supervisory practice within modern football governance systems.

“This process is neither unusual nor a penalty, and certainly not a sign of weakness. It is simply part of the monitoring and support mechanism widely applied by the AFC across Asia,” Zhafri asserted.

According to the lawyer, many football associations in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia and Brunei have undergone monitoring, audits, and technical support from the AFC. These interventions aim to help associations improve governance, increase transparency, and align with international standards set by FIFA and AFC.

Zhafri believes that Malaysian public opinion is reacting too emotionally, causing the issue to be exaggerated and unintentionally creating confusion during this sensitive period for FAM. “Any criticism must be based on facts. Otherwise, it only misleads the public about the true nature of the matter and complicates the reform process,” he stated.

Additionally, lawyer Zhafri addressed controversies regarding FAM's leadership structure after 16 executive committee members resigned simultaneously just 11 months into their 2025–2029 term. He noted that many have misunderstood certain FAM regulations, especially the role of the Secretary-General.

“Article 38(8) clearly states: if more than 50% of the executive committee members are vacant, the Secretary-General is responsible for convening an extraordinary congress. Therefore, the Secretary-General must remain in office to ensure the legality of the process,” Zhafri explained. Finally, Zhafri urged Malaysian fans to give FAM and AFC three months of stability instead of spreading inaccurate information. “See AFC’s involvement as an opportunity for reform, not a scandal,” he emphasized.

In the context of FAM facing possible FIFA sanctions, and the case involving seven naturalized players penalized for forged documents soon to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on February 26, calm and rational public opinion is considered crucial for Malaysian football to overcome this difficult phase.