The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has recommended that the management of the national football team should be placed fully under the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), in line with international governance standards.
In a broader context, the recommendation forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen administrative transparency and accountability within Malaysian football structures.
AFC secretary-general Windsor Paul John said the proposal was included in the confederation’s audit report on FAM’s administration.
He said the management of Harimau Malaya should be solely under FAM’s control, consistent with global football practices.
Windsor added that a national squad committee or similar mechanism could be established under FAM to oversee team operations.
He stressed that the structure should be fully returned to FAM, similar to previous arrangements.
The recommendation follows FAM’s restructuring of Harimau Malaya management in December 2024, which included the appointment of Canadian Robert Douglas Friend as national team chief executive officer in a newly created role.
FAM had previously set up a dedicated unit to manage the national team and monitor its performance, while maintaining that it was not a form of privatisation.
The AFC audit concluded that the national squad would function more effectively under FAM’s original structure to enhance governance and accountability.
