AFC tight-lipped over FAM election controversy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) remains tight-lipped about inquiries into the eligibility of the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) Electoral Committee chairman. AFC's general-secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul, responded with a simple "no comment" when approached by Timesport regarding the matter. This silence leaves ambiguity surrounding Professor Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohamad Said's compliance with FAM's recently adopted Electoral Code and whether the AFC has ensured adherence to the revised rules.

According to Article 4, paragraph 5 of the code, endorsed by FAM's congress on June 4, the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Electoral Committee must be qualified legal practitioners. However, public records indicate that Abdullah, a former Universiti Teknologi MARA deputy vice-chancellor, holds expertise in Town and Regional Planning and Environmental Studies, with no documented qualifications to practice law.

Abdullah has been in charge of FAM elections since 2020, with his term recently extended. He recently signed the nomination acceptance letters for the September 17 polls.

Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli suggested that any oversight should not be attributed to Abdullah, asserting that his integrity and competence are not under scrutiny. He attributed responsibility to FAM and the AFC for ensuring the electoral committee fully complied with the updated code. He cautioned that an aggrieved candidate or affiliate might challenge the election on technical grounds, potentially escalating the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and jeopardizing the result.

The Malaysian Football League president, Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, and the FA of Selangor deputy president, Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, are both vying for the vacant FAM presidency. FAM has also declined to comment on the issue.