FAM urged to end its culture of 'discretionary decision-making'

 

AFC general-secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has called for an end to the culture of "discretionary decision-making" in the FA of Malaysia (FAM), saying the national body must transition to a policy-driven system.

This means that no individual or small group can override statutes, create informal rules, or impose decisions without collective approval from the exco members.

AFC general-secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said the era of ambiguous statutes, personalised interpretations and "ad-hoc authority" in FAM must now be replaced with a modern governance framework aligned with international standards.

"In modern football, there shouldn't be discretionary powers. Everything has to come from the statutes and processes that everyone agrees on," he said.

Windsor also pushed back against the popular belief that leadership change is the main solution to FAM's current crisis.

He said the more important question is whether the structure itself will be reformed, regardless of who ends up in office.

"Congress is not the big issue. Reforms are more important.

"Having the same people without change is different from having the same people after change."

Windsor's remarks challenge the assumption that familiar faces in FAM automatically represent stagnation.

Instead, he signalled that AFC does not oppose continuity of personnel, but only if those individuals operate in a revamped, policy-bound environment where their authority is regulated by documented procedures, transparent processes and clear institutional checks.

The reforms expected of FAM encompass statute rewrites, clarified job scopes, separation of powers among the judicial, executive, and administrative branches, and a uniform regulatory framework aligned with AFC and FIFA compliance standards.

These include clearer financial governance, consistent disciplinary processes, and decision-making mechanisms that prevent any individual from interpreting rules as they please.

Meanwhile, Windsor also clarified a "misunderstood" point — the reinstatement of FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman.

Public debate had portrayed the episode as evidence of wrongdoings, as Azman's name was singled out in FIFA's motivated decision.

But Windsor said this was never the case. "What crime has he committed? Tell me. You cannot punish someone who followed the law of the land."

Windsor said Azman's situation showed why FAM needs clearer statutes, not because rules were broken, but because ambiguity allowed the issue to spiral into controversy.

He added that the AFC's role is to ensure governance standards are met, not to adjudicate legal or criminal matters.

"We are not enforcement. We are not investigating. That is the police job," he said.

In terms of restructuring ahead, Windsor explained that it will be more of a demand for institutional discipline than political reshuffling.

The success of Malaysia's football governance does not depend on who sits in the room, but on whether the room itself is governed by clear, non-negotiable rules. - NST