FAM boss seeks to right wrongs as he wants new chapter for association

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, the new president of the Football Association of Malaysia, apologized for last year's document forgery scandal involving seven mixed-heritage players who were subsequently banned by FIFA and fined the association. Ghani pledged to implement organizational reforms focused on transparency and quality management, including pursuing ISO 9001 certification and collaborating with government authorities to prevent future eligibility issues.

The newly appointed president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, has issued a public apology addressing the controversy involving seven "mixed heritage" football players linked to document forgery last year. Speaking after his first executive committee meeting since taking office two weeks prior, Ghani expressed regret to Malaysian football fans and pledged that such incidents will not recur during his tenure.

The seven players implicated in the scandal are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. Their eligibility came under intense scrutiny following investigations by the Independent Commission, the Royal Malaysia Police, and FIFA. As a result, FIFA imposed a 12-month ban on the players, set to conclude on November 5, and fined the FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately RM1.8 million).

Ghani emphasized that matters related to citizenship and passport issuance fall outside FAM’s authority. He said the association intends to seek clarification and work closely with the Home Ministry and its minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, to resolve outstanding issues.

Beyond addressing this controversy, Ghani outlined plans for organizational reform aimed at increasing transparency and strengthening governance. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had earlier conducted a quality audit in June, which revealed concerns regarding governance, accountability, and organizational management within FAM, with most operational sectors rated at a pre-intermediate level.

In response, Ghani announced that FAM would pursue ISO 9001 certification, an international standard for quality management systems. He highlighted the importance of adhering to rigorous administration and procedural standards to restore confidence and improve management practices. To meet these requirements, Ghani called on the FAM secretariat, led by secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, and all staff to commit fully to the certification process.

The association is also awaiting the full AFC governance audit report, which is expected to provide further recommendations for reform.

Regarding his concurrent role as president of the Malaysian Football League (MFL), Ghani indicated that a successor would be appointed following decisions by the MFL board of directors. He did not provide a specific timeline for this transition.

Ghani’s leadership marks a new chapter for Malaysian football, with a stated commitment to addressing past challenges while instituting stronger governance and operational standards within FAM.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.