Delay in football transition: Youth and Sports Ministry demands resolution of FAM leadership issues first
The Youth and Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh, has announced plans to transfer the management of the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) and Akademi Mokhtar Dahari (AMD) to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). However, the handover is conditional on FAM resolving its leadership issues.
Yeoh made it clear that the minister has made the decision based on an assessment conducted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The details of the AFC's assessment were not disclosed, but the minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that everything is prepared before the handover.
Currently, Datuk Yusoff Mahadi serves as the acting president of FAM, following the resignation of Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub in August 2025. Yusoff Mahadi is serving in an interim capacity pending the election of a new president within the current term. No further details were provided about the leadership issues within FAM.
The handover of management to FAM aligns with the AFC's assessment, and the minister has stated that discussions regarding the handover have already started. FAM has confirmed that it is prepared to assume control of NFDP and AMD if mandated by KBS and the National Sports Council.
Yeoh did not specify a timeline for the handover, but she made it clear that the Football Association of Malaysia must first resolve its president's issue before the handover can be discussed. The minister emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth transition and the continued success of the NFDP and AMD.
The minister's decision to transfer management is supported by the Youth and Sports Ministry, and the AFC has assessed the situation regarding the management of NFDP and AMD. With the right leadership in place, FAM is poised to take on the responsibility of managing these important programmes and continue to develop football in Malaysia.
