TMJ bombshell!

Tunku Ismail quits as FAM president

JOHOR BARU: Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (pic)pulled off a shocker when he resigned as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president with immediate effect.

In a statement posted on FAM’s Facebook page yesterday, Tunku Ismail said the national team’s ranking has dropped three places from 175 to 178 and he considered that a very big failure.

“With that being said, I think it is time that the president of FAM leaves football,” said Tunku Ismail, who became the FAM president on March 25 last year.

“Thank you for everything and it has been an honour for me to serve Malaysian football. Good luck,” he said.

Tunku Ismail, who is also the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football club owner, said he had done his best to lift the sport’s profile.

Within a year since taking up the post, he had restructured the local football scene and lured sponsors to help contribute to the development of football in the country. He also prepared a long-term plan for local football with the cooperation of Spain’s La Liga.

“I’ve fought for broadcasting rights for all competing teams in the M-League. I’ve helped them manage and strengthen their financial stability,” he said.

“History was made when all the teams received RM1mil to RM3mil annually for the first time, so that they can stop depending on government funding.”

Tunku Ismail also pointed out the achievements of the junior teams under his tenure when the Under-23, Under-19, and Under16 squads made history when they represented the country at the highest level in Asia.