Foul!

HARESH SAYS as published in Mailsport today IT was a weekend filled with plenty of expectations.  Footie fans had been pushing for changes in FA of Malaysia (FAM) through its #RombakFAM (revamp FAM) campaign.  The much awaited 50th congress was held on Sunday morning and it was the first time in three decades former president Sultan Ahmad Shah was challenged by two others — his son Tengku Abdullah and the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim. As many had expected, and I had said on air during Astro Arena’s Kafe Sukan last month, Tengku Abdullah was voted the new president.  But I had also on the same programme, through my previous writings and during Nadi Arena on Saturday, stressed Malaysia football is beyond FAM. It is only right to thank Sultan Ahmad for his three decades of services and to congratulate Tengku Abdullah for taking up the role — which he was destined to assume. Tengku Abdullah is also the Malaysia Hockey Confeder...

It was a short meeting at the Pahang palace in KL and Tunku Ismail Ibrahim left immediately after. FA of Malaysia (FAM) president Sultan Ahmad Shah later revealed to the Media that Tunku Ismail - who is the crown prince of Johor - will stay put as Johor FA president. Tunku Ismail, through a press release on April 3, stated his intention of relinquishing his post. Also revealed during the press conference that Tunku Ismail was handed a warning letter by the Disciplinary Board last week after he was seen at the bench during the Darul Takzim-Terengganu match at the Larkin Stadium last month despite still serving his 6-month suspension for violating FAM's Article 88. As for the statement made by FAM requesting members of the Press to "be careful" when reporting about Tunku Ismail and that they received "instruction from the palace", world governing body Fifa described it as an "internal matter" - as per their email to the author. Read all this a...