PETALING JAYA — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has suspended its secretary-general, Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, with immediate effect to allow an independent committee to investigate the recent FIFA sanctions imposed on the association and seven naturalised players.
The suspension follows FIFA’s decision to penalise FAM over incomplete documentation for seven naturalised Harimau Malaya players, rendering them ineligible to represent Malaysia.
As a result, Malaysia’s results in recent World Cup qualifiers have been forfeited.
FAM has since lodged an appeal with FIFA and initiated an internal investigation to determine how the administrative oversight occurred.
The development was confirmed by FAM deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundaram during a special press conference at Wisma FAM today.
“With regard to the FIFA case, the FAM secretary-general has been suspended with immediate effect.
“The suspension is to allow an independent body to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
“He was not suspended by choice. The decision was made by the FAM Executive Committee yesterday,” Sivasundaram said.
FIFA had earlier sanctioned FAM and seven naturalised players after raising concerns over doctored registration documents, which prompted the world football body to seek further clarification on the players’ eligibility status.
The seven affected Harimau Malaya players are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel.
According to FIFA’s official report, Notification of the Grounds of the Decision dated October 6, the sanctions were imposed under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code for the falsification and alteration of official documents.
As a result, FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.85 million), while each player received a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities and a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,000).
Noor Azman, who was appointed FAM secretary-general in September 2022, succeeding Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. – October 17, 2025