Kuala Lumpur: Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and First Vice President of FIFA, met with Datuk Mohd Joehari bin Mohd Ayub, the newly elected President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
During the meeting, Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim congratulated Datuk Johari on his appointment and acknowledged the presence and continued involvement of his predecessor, Tan Sri Datuk Haji Hamidin bin Haji Mohd Amin, member of the FIFA Council and Chairman of the AFC Finance Committee.
Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim commended the ongoing progress and achievements of Malaysian football, including the national team’s strong start in the final round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia, following a 2-0 win over Nepal last month.
He reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between the AFC and FAM, noting the historical connection, as Malaysia has hosted the AFC headquarters since 1965.
"The AFC’s story is closely intertwined with the history of Malaysian football," he said, expressing appreciation for the contributions of Malaysian football leaders past and present in advancing the sport across Asia.
Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with FAM and encouraged further engagement with AFC’s support programmes, including funding initiatives and specialised development projects.
He noted the positive impact of these tailored initiatives, which have supported FAM in areas such as coaching, refereeing, and football development.
On his part, Datuk Johari expressed his appreciation for the strong ties between FAM and the AFC and affirmed FAM’s commitment to expanding its use of AFC programmes. He outlined plans to implement new development initiatives aimed at advancing football throughout Malaysia.
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