Can a CEO revamp Malaysian football?

SHAH ALAM - The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been encouraged to create a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position to spearhead comprehensive reform in Malaysian football.

Sports analyst Afizal Abu Othman suggested that appointing a CEO could bring a fresh dynamic to the national football ecosystem, aligning it with modern football management practices.

“Why not adopt a new approach that fits the evolving landscape of contemporary football? This aligns with the management of the Harimau Malaya squad, which has already been suggested by the Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail.

“We can view this positively, as football associations in Europe have started adopting this model. For example, in England, football operations are managed by a CEO," he said.

Afizal, who also serves as the University of Malaya (UM) Sports Centre Director, stressed the importance of hiring someone experienced in sports business development to report directly to the FAM president and board of directors.

He believes that this could enhance the image of Malaysian football and attract sponsorships, reducing the reliance on government funding.

To ensure the initiative’s success, he recommended a five-year trial period to assess the CEO's effectiveness.

“While there may be challenges during the trial period, it is a necessary part of the process if we are serious about revolutionising football at all levels.

“It would also be beneficial to shape this initiative with a unique ‘Malaysian way’ to ensure better compatibility with the national football ecosystem," Afizal said.

He also believes that having a CEO at FAM could set a precedent for other key roles within the organisation, such as the Malaysian Football League (MFL) and the Amateur Football League (AFL), to introduce CEOs or Chief Operating Officers (COOs) as part of the framework.

Afizal addressed concerns about potential overlaps in authority, explaining that it would be up to FAM’s leadership to ensure proper operational restructuring.

Supporting the proposal, Sports Commissioner Suhardi Alias stated that national sports associations could create salaried positions, such as general managers, provided they are allowed under their constitutions.

“National sports associations like the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM), and the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) have already implemented this model.

“However, the financial capacity to sustain such positions must be considered, with key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned to each association’s strategic plans," Suhardi said.