KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub has resigned as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president — just six months into his term —, triggering a leadership shake-up within the governing body.
In a statement today, FAM said Joehari had submitted his resignation in writing, which was discussed at a special executive committee meeting chaired by deputy president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi at Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya.
“The executive committee respects his decision and records our highest appreciation and thanks to Datuk Joehari for his contributions, dedication and commitment since he was elected as vice-president in 2017 and subsequently as president in February 2025,” the association said.
The committee noted that under Article 42 of the FAM Statutes, the longest-serving deputy president automatically assumes the presidency on an interim basis until the next congress. As such, Yusoff has been appointed as acting president with immediate effect.
FAM added that it “prays for Datuk Joehari’s continued good health and success” and expressed hope that he would remain involved in Malaysian football in other capacities.
Joehari, the first FAM president from Sabah, was elected in February this year to succeed Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, who opted not to contest. His term was meant to run until 2029.
His abrupt resignation comes amid mounting speculation of instability within FAM’s leadership. As reported by Scoop, several senior figures were expected to vacate their posts due to difficulties committing to their roles, raising concerns of a reshuffle just months after the association’s congress.
At the time, sources told Scoop that the positions under question included the president and deputy president posts, and that Hamidin was preparing to meet executive members to prevent further disruption.
With Yusoff now stepping in as acting chief, attention will turn to how FAM manages the transition ahead of next year’s congress, where a new president must be formally elected to serve the remainder of the current term. — August 27, 2025