FAM President Apologizes Over Heritage Players' Documents Forgery
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan has issued a formal apology to Malaysian football supporters over last year's document-forgery scandal involving seven naturalized players, pledging that such issues will not recur during his tenure leading the association.
"I represent the entire FAM Executive Committee present today in apologizing to all Malaysian football supporters over the issue of document forgery involving seven heritage players that occurred last year," Ab Ghani stated firmly, addressing the controversy head-on rather than deflecting from the association's responsibility.
The FAM president offered a direct pledge regarding governance standards moving forward, framing the apology as the beginning of a broader accountability commitment. "I am giving my commitment that throughout my tenure leading FAM, matters or issues of this nature will not be allowed to happen again," he stated, addressing media following the Sixth Executive Committee Meeting for the 2025-2029 term held at Wisma FAM today.
Addressing the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the passport status of the seven heritage players implicated in the scandal, Ab Ghani revealed plans for direct engagement with government authorities to resolve the matter. "Regarding the passport status of the seven heritage players in question, I will be holding a meeting with the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail," he confirmed.
The football association president was candid in acknowledging that matters of citizenship and passport issuance fall outside FAM's jurisdiction, necessitating close cooperation with the relevant government ministry to find a resolution. "Matters related to citizenship and passport issuance are outside FAM's jurisdiction. So we will all be seeking clarification and close cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs to find the best possible solution," he explained.
The apology and subsequent commitment to engage directly with the Home Ministry represents a significant moment of accountability for Malaysian football's governing body, coming as the naturalized players program has become an increasingly central pillar of the national team's competitive strategy. With Harimau Malaya's recent squad featuring several naturalized talents contributing significantly to on-field performances, resolving the documentation controversy and restoring public confidence in the eligibility process carries considerable weight for the association's credibility moving forward.
Credit Photo : FAM
