Top Malaysian official resigns after latest defeat

Sports / Off the Field

Top Malaysian official resigns after latest defeat

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-16 09:41

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 - The deputy president of the Football Association
of Malaysia has resigned, one day after the co-hosts suffered a second
straight heavy defeat in the Asian Cup.

Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said in a letter faxed to local news
agency Bernama on Sunday: "It is with deep regret that I would like to
inform you that I have decided to resign from all my positions in the FAM
today."

No reason was given for his resignation but Abdullah was known to be
unhappy with Malaysia's performance in Asia's premier international
tournament.

Abdullah, also an executive member of the Asian Football Confederation
(AFC), criticised coach Norizan Bakar after Malaysia lost 5-1 to China in
their Group C opener on Tuesday.

On Saturday, they suffered another heavy defeat, losing 5-0 to
Uzbekistan, and are almost certain to be eliminated from the competition.

His resignation completes a difficult few months for Abdullah, who was
also at a the centre of English Premier League champions Manchester
United's controversial trip to Malaysia.

The AFC put intense pressure on the FAM to cancel United's proposed match
against a Malaysia select team on July 27 in order not to divert
attention from the Asian Cup final two days later in Jakarta.

Abdullah made the bold decision to carry on with the match and risk the
wrath of both the AFC and FIFA.

In the end, his gesture of defiance was nullified with United cancelling
the match because of AFC's refusal to sanction their visit.

Abdullah was appointed FAM deputy president in February 1992 but resigned
one year later. He was re-elected in 1994 and held the position until his
resignation on Sunday.

Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are the other co-hosts in the 16-nation
tournament.

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