AFC audit exposes governance challenges, structural concerns in FAM

 

An Asian Football Confederation (AFC) audit of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has flagged multiple operational concerns, including indications of a fear-based culture that may be discouraging staff from escalating issues early.

The findings were presented by AFC deputy secretary-general Vahid Kardany at an FAM extraordinary congress in Selangor today.

The presentation highlighted FAM governance structures that, although they existed, were not formally approved or enforced.

Authority was said to be concentrated at the top of the organisation, bypassing formal reporting lines and mandates.

It also raised concerns that critical functions are built around individuals rather than systems, creating dependency risks.

Other issues included the absence of annual business plans, activity calendars, and performance reports, along with unapproved policies, a lack of key performance indicators, and limited succession planning.

The audit further noted that institutional knowledge is concentrated among a small number of individuals.

Vahid’s presentation showed that most of FAM’s operational areas were assessed at Level 2 (Pre-Intermediate), indicating that improvements are required.

The scores recorded included:

• Administration, logistics, and information technology - 1.6

• People and culture - 1.4

• Infrastructure and facilities - 1.4

• Governance and legal - 1.3

• Finance, business information, and risk - 1.2

Communications and media was the only department to achieve 2.0, placing it at Level 3 (Intermediate).

The extraordinary congress, chaired by AFC secretary-general Windsor Paul John, was attended by FAM honorary president Hamidin Amin, FAM secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman, 35 delegates representing all 18 affiliates, representatives from Fifa and the AFC, and observers.

In January, all FAM exco members for the 2025-2029 term announced voluntary mass resignations.

The move was taken on the grounds of organisational responsibility without personal interest, and was seen as a prudent step following the “heritage player” issue, as well as to safeguard the integrity of FAM.

- Bernama