29/01/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | JAN 29, 2026

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T HE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) yesterday announced that all members of its Executive Committee (Exco) for the 2025–2029 term have collectively and vol untarily tendered their resignations with immedi ate effect. Acting FAM president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said the decision was made unanimously, taking into account organisational responsibility and without regard to personal interests or posi tions. He said the move was a prudent and principled step taken in light of the current situation that has drawn public attention and, among others, aimed at safeguarding the integrity of FAM. “This resignation is intended to achieve the fol lowing objectives, namely to protect the reputation and interests of FAM as an organisation and to reduce the risk of more serious consequences that could affect Malaysian football as a whole. “To uphold the principles of good governance and accountability, particularly in circumstances where public confidence must be preserved,” he said at a press conference after chairing a Special Meeting of the FAM Executive Committee at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya yesterday. Mohd Yusoff said the resignations would also provide appropriate space for the International

FAM Exco resign All members quit to protect reputation, interests of association, says president Mohd Yusoff

ITALIAN CUP (Round of 16) : Fiorentina 1 Como 3. BUNDESLIGA: St Pauli 1 RB Leipzig 1, Werder Bremen 0 Hoffenheim 2. P W D L F A Pts B. Munich 19 16 2 1 72 16 50 Dortmund 19 12 6 1 38 17 42 Hoffenheim 19 12 3 4 40 22 39 RB Leipzig 19 11 3 5 37 25 36 Stuttgart 19 11 3 5 36 26 36 Leverkusen 18 10 2 6 35 25 32 RESULTS Sivasangari crashes out in New York NATIONAL squash player Sivasangari Subramaniam’s campaign at the Tournament of Champions (ToC) 2026 came to an end after she lost to world No. 4 Olivia Weaver of the United States in the quarterfinals in New York yesterday. Sivasangari fought hard but eventually went down 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11 to Weaver, who maintained control of the match with greater consistency through out the encounter. The 27-year-old Malaysian showed resil ience in the third game to stay in conten tion, but Weaver regrouped to seal the match in four games. “Siva without a doubt, is one of the most dangerous players on tour and you can never take her lightly,” Weaver said via psasquashtour.com . “I have played her a few times now this season and I am no spring chicken any more, so I have to put my experience to use. “I am really happy how I was able to hang tough there and bounceback after the third, she is never going to go away, she plays until the end. “So, today it was just about finding my targets on the court and staying aggressive, but in the end I think it was my patience that won the match, I am very excited to be through to the semifinals.” The defeat ended Sivasangari’s chal lenge in the Platinum-tier tournament after she had produced an impressive win to advance to the last eight. It marked Sivasangari’s first quarterfinal appearance at the prestigious event, hav ing exited in the opening round in last year’s edition. – Bernama/Agencies Sasi shines at QS26 VETERAN M. Sasidaran leads the PGM Qualifying School at even par. Syafiq Musa and amateur Aiden Kei is one stroke away at one over par. Allycia Gan is three over par tied with Dino Abdillah, Zia Iqmal, Qusyairy Ihsan and Jordan Ooi. The field comprises of many young and uprising talent at the prestigious Kelab Golf Seri Selangor from Jan 27-29.

Committee. The crisis currently affecting FAM began in September last year after Fifa confirmed that FAM and seven players – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Manchuca, Jodo Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel – were found to have breached Article 22 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC). Investigations found that FAM had submitted documents believed to have been falsified to verify the eligibility of the seven players, thereby allowing them to feature in a 4–0 win over Vietnam in Group F of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers here in June last year. Following the decision, FAM was ordered to pay a fine of CHF350,000 (RM1.8 million), while each player was fined CHF2,000 (RM11,000), and all seven were suspended from all football-related activities for 12 months. Yesterday, FAM informed that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had allowed the appli cation for a Stay of Execution submitted by the seven players after Fifa’s Appeal Committee rejected the appeals previously lodged by FAM and the players. – Bernama

Federation of Association Football (Fifa) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to freely assess, review and, if necessary, address matters related to FAM’s governance and administrative affairs. According to him, the move would also ensure that any necessary reforms can be implemented without interference or perceived conflicts, and on the basis of a high level of trust. Meanwhile, Mohd Yusoff said the resignations were also aimed at restoring confidence among supporters, stakeholders, partners and the football community as a whole. Separately, Mohd Yusoff said FAM secretary general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the govern ing body, which is expected to convene an Electoral Congress to appoint a new Executive

JDT head coach Xisco Munoz (left) and Manuel Hidalgo. – BERNAMAPIC

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JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM (JDT) FC head coach Xisco Munoz has welcomed the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowing seven previously suspended Harimau Malaya heritage players to return to action. However, Munoz said he has yet to decide if Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel will be included in the starting line-up for today’s Asean Club Championship 2025/26 Group B match against Myanmar’s Shan United FC. “This is positive for us, and we are very happy with this decision for the players. “Now we need to decide today what the situation is for both the team and the players, and whether it is possible to include them in the match or keep them on the bench,” he said at a pre-match press conference yesterday. Meanwhile, Xisco described their match at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium today against Shan United as crucial, despite their opponents cur rently sitting at the bottom of the standings. He said the Southern Tigers are fully aware Munoz welcomes CAS ruling, eyes Cup semifinal spot

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Based on current statistics, he said six pub lic higher education institutions (IPTA) and five private higher education institutions (IPTS) nationwide offer courses related to the field. “Latest statistics record enrolment among Malaysian citizens at bachelor’s degree level in sports-related fields at 4,016 students in IPTA and 710 students in IPTS. “To support athletes’ studies, KBS offers the Federal Sports Scholarship, which has bene fited 1,349 recipients up to 2025, and this ini tiative will be continued in 2026 with an alloca tion of RM2 million,” he said. – Bernama of Shan United’s qualities, particularly their pace in transition and defensive organisation, and therefore cannot afford to take the match lightly. “It will be a tough game. We want to give our best because if we take the three points, we will be very close to progressing to the next stage,” he said. Shan United head coach Han Win Aung said his team is ready to face JDT, which is widely regarded as the best club in Asean, even though they no longer have a chance to qualify for the next round. He added that his team will give their best and defend until the final whistle. “We will do our best and we will try to get a good result; we are focused on good technique, teamwork, and taking advantage of our oppor tunities on the pitch,” he said. JDT are currently second in Group B, just behind Nam Dinh (Vietnam), after winning two matches and collecting seven points so far. – Bernama

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No new athletics stadium for 2027 SEA Games: KBS THE Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) has no plans at present to build a new international standard athletics stadium, instead will focus on upgrading existing facilities as part of preparations for the 2027 SEA Games. of the Games next year. “This approach is more appropriate in order to optimise the use of facilities in an economi cal and effective manner,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

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Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said the decision was made based on the fact that existing facilities such as the Bukit Jalil National Stadium (SNBJ) remain in top condition and meet the required standards. “The government has decided to upgrade existing sports facilities to ensure that venues are in optimal condition ahead of the hosting

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Commenting on the proposal for a dedi cated sports university, Mordi explained that, for now, existing higher education institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) are sufficient to offer sports-related fields of study progressively according to needs.

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