The Deputy President of the Football Association of Malaysia has resigned, one day after the AFC Asian Cup co-hosts suffered a second straight heavy defeat. Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah announced his decision in a public letter faxed to local news agency Bernama on Sunday. Abdullah, also an executive member of the Asian Football Confederation, had criticised national coach Norizan Bakar after Malaysia lost 5-1 to China in their Group C opener on Tuesday.
According to Nazvi Careem of Reuters, the resignation completed a difficult few months for Abdullah, who was also at a the centre of English Premier League champions Manchester United's controversial trip to Malaysia. "The AFC put intense pressure on the FAM to cancel United's proposed match against a Malaysia select team on 27 July in order not to divert attention from the Asian Cup final two days later in Jakarta. Abdullah made the bold decision to carry on with the match and risk the wrath of both the AFC and FIFA. In the end, his gesture of defiance was nullified with United cancelling the match because of AFC's refusal to sanction their visit."
According to Nazvi Careem of Reuters, the resignation completed a difficult few months for Abdullah, who was also at a the centre of English Premier League champions Manchester United's controversial trip to Malaysia. "The AFC put intense pressure on the FAM to cancel United's proposed match against a Malaysia select team on 27 July in order not to divert attention from the Asian Cup final two days later in Jakarta. Abdullah made the bold decision to carry on with the match and risk the wrath of both the AFC and FIFA. In the end, his gesture of defiance was nullified with United cancelling the match because of AFC's refusal to sanction their visit."