How smart leaders can reframe FAM’s Fifa challenge into opportunity
From Ghazalie Abdullah
Conventional wisdom says there is no leg for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to stand on after the findings of Fifa’s appeal committee. However, that’s the wrong view to take.
The real question is how to turn an unfavourable Fifa ruling into a controlled, countrywide system reset – legally, politically, and operationally – whether or not FAM wins the appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)?
Let’s look at the facts. Fifa’s appeal committee has since confirmed the sanctions against FAM and seven players (350,000 Swiss francs fine for FAM; 12-month bans and fines for the players). FAM has indicated it would take the matter to CAS once it receives the written grounds, which it now has.
An independent investigation, led by former chief justice Raus Sharif, is ongoing. These are official frameworks, not rumours. Meanwhile, oversight by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is also…
