AFC sets the timing for issuing a ruling on Malaysian football.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has scheduled the announcement of its assessment conclusions and related disciplinary measures concerning the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), following a comprehensive audit that has been underway since the beginning of this year.

According to the plan, the final report is expected to be completed before the FIFA World Cup 2026, thereby paving the way for decisions to be made regarding any violations if they exist.

This information was announced by AFC General Secretary Windsor John at a press conference held at FAM headquarters in Kelana Jaya. He stated that the audit is being conducted with the cooperation of FIFA and a team of over 20 international experts, focusing on evaluating the entire governance system and operational mechanisms of Malaysian football.

According to Windsor, the goal of the assessment is not only to identify weaknesses in the management structure but also to provide a comprehensive reform roadmap for FAM. "After 100 years of operation, any organization needs a thorough inspection. Just like a car that runs every day but eventually needs an engine check," he analogized.

The audit program, led by AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, has examined many important areas within FAM's executive machinery. Experts are deeply analyzing issues such as the legal system, operational regulations, branding, governance structure, personnel management, and membership development policies.

AFC emphasized that the assessment will help identify gaps in FAM's decision-making and internal management processes. Subsequently, the organization will propose amendments to statutes and establish a new governance model aligned with modern football standards.

According to the plan, after the report is finalized, FAM will have to convene an extraordinary congress to approve changes to its statutes and organizational structure. If approved by the members, an election congress for a new leadership could be held around August or September this year, i.e., shortly after the 2026 World Cup commences.

This large-scale audit is conducted amidst Malaysian football facing a severe governance crisis. Previously, all members of FAM's Executive Committee resigned en masse on January 28 as part of a plan to restructure the executive machinery.

Additionally, scandals related to the registration of naturalized players have severely impacted FAM's reputation. Names such as João Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Rodrigo Holgado have sparked major controversies over verification procedures and the legality of their registration for competition.

The matter quickly escalated from an administrative dispute into a governance crisis, as multiple layers of control within the system – from clubs, leagues, the federation, to the legal department – failed to detect irregularities in the players' documentation.

Windsor affirmed that the audit team will focus on information flow and decision-making processes to find the root causes of these errors. "We are not a criminal investigation agency. But we can analyze records, processes, and determine which point in the system was compromised," he said.

While the primary objective of the audit is to reform the governance system, AFC also does not rule out the possibility of imposing disciplinary measures. According to Windsor, if football officials violate regulations, they could still be brought before international football disciplinary committees.

Thus, before the 2026 World Cup takes place, Malaysian football is likely to receive an official conclusion from AFC. This is seen as a crucial turning point determining the future governance of FAM as well as the reputation of the country's football on the continental stage.