Who let the suspended man in?

FAM has finally broken its silence over its suspended general secretary’s appearance at a Fifa event, but the explanation raises more doubts.

In its statement, the Football Association of Malaysia said the photograph showing Noor Azman Rahman with Fifa president Gianni Infantino and FAM honorary president Hamidin Amin was taken outside any official event.

It added that Noor Azman was present in his personal capacity and was not representing the association in any formal role.

That distinction may sound tidy on paper, but it dodges the real question.

Why was a grounded official anywhere near the Fifa president during a high-profile visit, and at a signing ceremony witnessed by the prime minister?

Nine days earlier, FAM had suspended Noor Azman “with immediate effect” to prevent interference with an independent inquiry into falsified player documents.

It was the same case that saw the national body fined RM1.8 million and seven players banned by Fifa.

The purpose of the suspension was clear: remove the general secretary from influence while the investigation runs its course.

Yet, on Oct 26, Noor Azman was seen walking into the Plenary Hall at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the Asean-Fifa memorandum of understanding signing ceremony.

He mingled with officials and sat in the second row, a spot hard to confuse with personal attendance.

This was not a public function. Access was tightly controlled, with police screening guests and media accreditation handled by the summit secretariat.

If Noor Azman attended privately, how did he obtain clearance? Was his name included on an official guest list?

And why did FAM officials present not act to prevent a situation that could embarrass the association in front of world leaders and football’s top brass?

Later, Infantino’s own Instagram video from the trip featured a brief clip of Noor Azman alongside him and Hamidin outside a Kuala Lumpur hotel.

Again, FAM insists that the encounter was outside any formal event.

But when a suspended official repeatedly surfaces near the association’s leadership and the Fifa president, the optics overpower the disclaimers.

A suspension is not symbolic; it is operational. It creates a buffer to preserve integrity and public confidence.

When that boundary blurs, it suggests either poor enforcement or selective discipline, neither of which builds trust.

Ironically, at that same ceremony, Infantino spoke about Fifa’s commitment to strengthen integrity in Asean football.

The scene in Kuala Lumpur, unfortunately, told a different story.

FAM says it hopes its explanation clears up confusion. There is no confusion — only contradiction.

Until the association enforces its own decisions with conviction, every declaration of reform will remain, like that photograph, an image that says one thing and shows another.

 

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.