Malaysian football faces a severe crisis following AFC's penalty.

Up to now, the Malaysian Football Association continues to operate without an executive committee.

The longer the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) lacks an executive committee (exco), the deeper the damage to the domestic football industry becomes, and that is something football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir does not wish to see happen. "The Congress cannot be postponed. Currently, only the Secretary General (Datuk Noor Azman Rahman) and staff are working," Jamal said.

"We do not know FAM's direction, because we understand that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) must complete the Quality Audit Assessment Program for the football governing body before an Extraordinary Congress can be convened."

He also questioned the lack of transparency following AFC's audit of FAM, which began in early March, stating that silence only adds to uncertainty. "No information has been released. We do not know the study results. We want clarity and transparency," Jamal said.

Malaysian football is in a difficult situation after the naturalization scandal last September, when FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) declared seven players – Joao Figueiredo, Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Facundo Garces – ineligible to play because their naturalization documents were found to be forged.

This has turned into a comprehensive crisis, leading to the entire FAM leadership for the 2025-2029 term resigning collectively, and subsequently AFC conducted the Quality Audit Assessment Program, expected to be completed before the World Cup in June.

After presenting guidelines on structural changes, including amendments to statutes and governance framework, AFC will convene an Extraordinary Congress. Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor John aims to hold the election congress after the World Cup, around August or September.

Although things appear to be proceeding according to plan, Jamal still wants to push for faster restoration of leadership to avoid the risk of further deterioration. "The new leadership from the Congress will determine a more effective and reliable direction," Jamal said. "The longer we wait, the worse the situation becomes."

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