Sports
AFC to review Malaysia FA as top officials quit over foreign-born players’ scandal
KUALA LUMPUR: The Football Association of Malaysia on Wednesday said its executive committee for the 2025-2029 term will resign effective immediately, as the Asian Football Confederation conducts a review into the organisation that is facing a widening document forgery scandal.
FAM has been struggling to defend itself against claims by world football’s governing body FIFA that it used doctored documentation to allow seven naturalised players to participate in an Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam last year.
In September, FIFA suspended the footballers for 12 months and fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs ($439,257), though the Court of Arbitration of Sport this week allowed a temporary stay on the player bans pending an appeal by the Malaysian association.
FAM acting president Mohd Yusoff Mahadi on Wednesday said all members of the association’s executive committee, who were appointed 11 months ago, made the decision to resign to protect the organisation’s integrity as it looks to implement reforms and contain further fallout from the scandal.
“The resignations are to safeguard the reputation and institutional interests of [the association] and to mitigate the risk of further adverse consequences that could affect Malaysian football as a whole,” Mahadi told reporters.
He described the move as voluntary, and a “measured and principled step taken in response to recent developments that have attracted significant public attention and external scrutiny”.
Wednesday’s resignations will “provide the appropriate space for FIFA and the AFC to independently assess, review, and, where necessary, address governance, administrative, and procedural matters within FAM”, Yusoff added.
FIFA suspended seven foreign-born players for a year in September and fined the FAM $400,000 for submitting doctored papers claiming they had Malaysian ancestry.
FIFA accused the country’s federation of submitting the documents to make them eligible to represent the Southeast Asian nation, ostensibly to give the national football team a boost.
Football’s global governing body then launched a probe after receiving a complaint following Malaysia’s 4-0 thrashing of Vietnam in a June Asian Cup qualifier.
An investigation by the body showed that none of the players — Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Joao Brandao Figueiredo — had a parent or grandparent born in the country.
FAM appealed the sanctions, but a FIFA committee rejected it and issued a scathing report slamming the association for “not taking any discernible disciplinary action” in the wake of the allegations.
It also said it would launch a formal probe into FAM’s internal operations and notify authorities in five countries of potential criminal proceedings.
The scandal sparked uproar in Malaysia, with fans and several lawmakers calling for action to be taken against FAM and government agencies responsible for granting citizenship to the players.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has promised transparency in domestic probes into the alleged forgery, but stressed that FAM should be allowed to defend itself.
FAM has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, where the case is pending.
In December, FIFA again penalised the Southeast Asian nation with three 3-0 defeats in friendlies and slapped on an additional $12,500 in fines.
The association’s general-secretary, Noor Azman Rahman, will now continue to oversee the FAM’s daily operations with the help of the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation, officials said Wednesday.
“What we have discussed in today’s meeting is to help assess the FAM in regards to several internal aspects,” AFC general secretary Windsor Paul John told the press conference.
The AFC will also conduct a review into FAM’s internal management and administrative processes. “We want to identify the weaknesses and gaps that we can benchmark against a modern and standard association,” said Windsor.
The AFC is then to provide a report of their findings at an upcoming FAM congress.
Meanwhile, the FAM on Monday said the CAS granted the seven players a reprieve pending the outcome of the hearings, now set for February 25.
Windsor said the move would allow the players to play for their football clubs, but it was unclear whether they could return to their careers as national players.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026
The Pakistan cricket team on Monday arrived in Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on February 7.
In a post on X, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that a 15-player squad had arrived in the country.
“The 15-player national squad includes Captain Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Naeef, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq,” the PCB said in an earlier post, the informed of the squad’s department for the global event’s venue.
In the latest update about the aquad’s arrival in Colombo, the board said the team would rest on Monday and Tuesday.
“The team will play a warm-up match against Ireland on Feb 4,” PCB added.
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on Feb 7.
On Sunday, the government gave the go-ahead for Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, but barred it from playing against arch-rival India on February 15.
The announcement came amid uncertainty regarding a possible boycott of the tournament over Bangladesh’s withdrawal following tensions with India.
A government source told Dawn that Pakistan had refused to play against India to express solidarity with Bangladesh. According to the government source, the primary reason for boycotting the match with India was the ICC’s “biased decision” towards Bangladesh.
BULAWAYO: India completed the semi-final line-up for the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a comprehensive 58-run win over Pakistan in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The victory in the final Super Six match at the Queens Sports Club means the Indian colts head into the knockouts unbeaten and as Group 2 toppers.
After a late surge helped them to 252 in 49.5 overs, India put in a clinical performance in the field to dismiss Pakistan for 194 in 46.2 overs.
India joined Australia, England and Afghanistan into the final four. The Ayush Mhatre-led side face Afghanistan in the semi-finals in Harare on Wednesday. The first semi-final, between Australia and England, takes place in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Put into bat, India powered past 250 thanks to the acceleration provided by the lower order in the last 10 overs.
With a spot in the semi-final on line, India were expecting another blockbuster innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Though the left-hander gave the team a brisk start, striking five fours and a six as he motored to 30, he was living dangerously. After two close calls, Sooryavanshi fell to a shorter delivery from Mohammad Sayyam, with a bottom-edge carrying to wicket-keeper Hamza Zahoor.
Starting with Sooryavanshi, India lost three and in the space of four balls. While Sayyam also dismissed India captain Ayush Mhatre, Abdul Subhan bowled over opener Aaron George to reduce India to 47-3.
In their previous match in Bulawayo, India had scored a mammoth 352-8 against Zimbabwe. But on Sunday, the ball wasn’t coming on to the bat as well and stayed low. Vedant Trivedi led India’s fightback with 68. His 62-run fourth-wicket partnership with Vihaan Malhotra (21) helped steer India clear of immediate trouble. Trivedi also put on handy stands with Abhigyan Kundu and RS Ambrish.
After the middle order had kept the scoreboard ticking, the lower order provided the late flourish. Kanishk Chouhan (35 off 29) and Khilan Patel (21 off 15) helped India notch 71 runs in the last 10 overs, lifting the score to 252.
For Pakistan, Subhan dismissed Chouhan and Patel to finish with 3-33 in 9.5 overs.
To qualify for the semi-final at India’s expense, Pakistan needed to chase down the target within 33.4 overs; otherwise, if the innings ended with a six to reach 258, they had until 34.3 overs to get there.
Pakistan showed some early intent, scoring 13 runs off the second over. It seemed their chances hinged on Sameer Minhas, but India were able to send the star opener back fairly quickly. He was trapped leg before wicket by Henil Patel.
Following the early setback, Pakistan never showed any urgency to make a run for the semi-final spot. Hamza Zahoor (42), Usman Khan (66) and captain Farhan Yousuf (38) hung in there gamely even as runs slowed down to a trickle.
Chouhan conceded 30 runs off his 10 overs and claimed the wicket of Zahoor and was named the player-of-the-match. Skipper Mhatre claimed three wickets for 21 in his overs while Khilan Patel got 3-35.
Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026
The Pakistan cricket team on Monday departed for Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on February 7.
In a post on X, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that a 15-player squad was departing for Sri Lanka.
“The 15-player national squad includes Captain Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Naeef, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq,” the PCB said.
It said that the team would rest on Monday and Tuesday.
“The team will play a warm-up match against Ireland on Feb 4,” PCB added.
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on Feb 7.
On Sunday, the government gave the go-ahead for Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, but barred it from playing against arch-rival India on February 15.
The announcement came amid uncertainty regarding a possible boycott of the tournament over Bangladesh’s withdrawal following tensions with India.
A government source told Dawn that Pakistan had refused to play against India to express solidarity with Bangladesh. According to the government source, the primary reason for boycotting the match with India was the ICC’s “biased decision” towards Bangladesh.
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