'They cannot interfere, cannot give any instructions, cannot influence'

 

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John. - Pic from AFC

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John has issued a reminder that the government must not interfere in the affairs of the FA of Malaysia (FAM), warning that any misstep could trigger FIFA sanctions.

The relationship between FAM and FIFA has drawn attention following repeated warnings about the risks of government involvement, particularly in the wake of the document-forgery scandal involving seven Malaysian heritage players.

Windsor supported earlier remarks by sports observer Datuk Christopher Raj, who said the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) must remain cautious and avoid crossing boundaries that could be seen as political interference.

He stressed that although FAM is facing a crisis following FIFA's ruling, the government cannot issue directives or apply pressure on any FAM officials to step down, as the association's leadership is appointed by its member affiliates at congress.

"Even though FAM is in a crisis, the ministry or its minister cannot instruct FAM officials to resign. They cannot, because they are elected by the member affiliates," he said.

Windsor said the government is indeed one of the major stakeholders in Malaysian football, but its role is to support development, not manage or dictate the administration of the association. He added that all official statements must be made carefully, as misinterpretation could also be considered interference.

"When making statements, you must be careful so as not to violate FAM's independence," he said.

He reiterated that the government must not issue instructions, influence decisions, or involve itself in FAM's internal administrative processes.

"They cannot interfere, cannot give any instructions, cannot influence," he said, adding that the integrity of the association must be respected in line with FIFA regulations.

When asked about recent cases involving government interference that resulted in suspension, Windsor pointed to an example from the region.

"Recently, it was Brunei. There was third-party interference in the election process... FIFA and AFC have already formed a normalisation committee," he said, referring to an incident that occurred within the past two months.

He explained that third-party involvement in leadership elections directly affects a country's football governance and forces FIFA and AFC to take drastic measures to restore administrative structure.

The Brunei case, he said, should serve as a clear warning that any action outside established guidelines can have significant consequences for the entire football ecosystem. - NST