Amendments to FAM's Article 88 expected to be in July

The Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) executive council will meet on July 10, to finalise amendments to FAM's Article 88 Statute, which has become a hot topic among the local football fraternity.

FAM secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said the meeting, to be chaired by FAM vice president Datuk Afandi Hamzah, would also discuss policies and regulations of the governing body for football.

"If the exco members approve the draft during the meeting, the draft will be tabled in the FAM Congress on Aug 1, and later decided by the FAM Executive Council since it involves the constitution," he said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Astro Arena, the main sponsor of the M-League, and Utusan Malaysia, at Wisma FAM, here, today.

Through the MoU, Astro Arena will share news content, expertise and sports journalist with Utusan Malaysia on news involving football development in the country.

Astro Arena was represented by its Chief Financial Officer (Astro), Ahmad Fuaad Mohd Kenali while Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd's Executive Director Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali signed on behalf of Utusan Malaysia.

Article 88 forbids officials, coaches and players from talking to the press pertaining to football administration and policies of FAM.

"Coaches are allowed to give their comments on the performance of their respective teams as long as it does not touch on policy matters. If they have any comments on policies or administration, they must do it through the proper channel," he said.

A number of leading football personalities, including Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim who is the president of the Johor FA, FAM deputy president Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Kelantan FA president) and Perlis FA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, had been suspended and fined for allegedly violating Article 88.