Tunku Ismail retracts decision to step down

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President Sultan Ahmad Shah made the announcement after granting an audience to Tunku Ismail at Istana Pahang, here, Tuesday.

Also present during the one hour audience was the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar who is also the father of Tunku Ismail and Tengku Muda Pahang, Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Sultan Ahmad Shah said Tunku Ismail made the decision after being persuaded by him and Sultan Ibrahim.

"I am glad that he (Tunku Ismail) will remain as Johor FA President and work hard to elevate the status of football in Johor," he told reporters after the meeting.

Tunku Ismail will however, serve out the six-month suspension meted out by the FAM Disciplinary Committee and pay the RM18,000 fine, as required.

"Once someone has decided to become a member of an association, he or she is bound by the rules and constitution of the association. No one can be exempted from the law because it has been practiced for decades," he said.

Tunku Ismail was slapped with a six-month suspension effective March 8, and fined RM18,000 by the FAM for criticising the quality of refereeing in the M-League.

While serving the suspension order, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor was embroiled in another controversy when he was alleged to have sat on the team's reserve bench during Johor Darul Takzim's (JDT FC) Super League match against Terengganu at the Tan Sri Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin on March 30.

Once suspended, the person is not allowed to be involved in any football activities while serving the suspension.