{
  "id": 7667792,
  "title": "Why should anyone believe FAM will really change after Sept 17?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/why-should-anyone-believe-fam-will-really-change-after-sept-17",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/09/16/why-should-anyone-believe-fam-will-really-change-after-sept-17"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysian football's governing body, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), is set to hold an election on September 17, aiming to elect a new president and executive committee. However, the election raises questions about whether it can truly signify a change after the previous leadership resigned following an AFC governance review. The new statutes have been rewritten, the executive committee reduced to 11 members, and clubs given more formal representation. Yet, 17 of the 28 confirmed candidates have connections to the previous administration, including 12 who served on the now-defunct executive committee. This presence of old FAM members in the election casts doubt on the sincerity of the promised fresh start. FAM's credibility was severely damaged by governance failures, including a case of falsified documentation that led to sanctions from FIFA and a fine of nearly RM2 million. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld these sanctions, highlighting the damage to trust in football's fairness. While the resignation of the entire executive committee was intended to address these issues, the return of many of the same people to the election suggests a lack of genuine transformation. The new statutes provide FAM with tools to improve governance, such as a smaller executive committee and tighter eligibility rules. However, these changes are only as effective as the people implementing them. The real test will be whether the new leadership can demonstrate strong internal controls, accept accountability, and challenge established practices. Simply changing the leadership does not guarantee a change in culture. The public must scrutinize whether FAM can break free from its past mistakes and build a culture of transparency and accountability. Until FAM demonstrates a willingness to confront its history and implement meaningful reforms, the election alone will not restore the public's confidence in the association.",
  "summary": "The Football Association of Malaysia goes to the polls promising renewal, but a striking number of familiar faces are seeking another place at the table.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Why should anyone believe FAM will really change after Sept 17?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/why-should-anyone-believe-fam-will-really-change-after-sept-17-7668842",
        "published": "2026-09-15T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}