KUALA LUMPUR — Since assuming the presidency of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in 2018, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has transformed Malaysian football through initiatives like the F:30 roadmap, significantly boosting Malaysia’s FIFA ranking from 178 to 135.
Despite these improvements, life has never been easy for the football chief as he faces relentless scrutiny from fans over the years.
It has been a rough week for Hamidin with back-to-back issues in the national sports scene, specifically the national contingent attire for the Paris Olympics and sanctions against Selangor FC by the Malaysian Football League (MFL), which have drawn public scrutiny.
However, these matters are beyond his direct jurisdiction.
As the deputy president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and Chef de Mission (CDM) for the Paris Olympics, the 58-year-old faced heavy backlash, with some suggesting replacing him as CDM with national squash legend Datuk Nicol Ann David, the current Deputy CDM.
Hamidin also received backlash for initially failing to secure an audience with the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, in regards to the Selangor FC fiasco.
However, it was recently reported that Hamidin has secured approval for a meeting, scheduled after July 7.
With Hamidin being bombarded from all corners of the sports scene, a crucial question arises: is it fair to blame Hamidin for issues outside his control?
Officials within the national football body, who spoke on anonymity, argue against scapegoating Hamidin, emphasising his positive impact on Malaysian sports.
“Since assuming office, Hamidin has made significant progress in football development, and it’s unfair to question his dedication,” said the official to Scoop.
“Critics often stir controversies with the hope of toppling him, as they couldn’t accept the fact that he has managed to bring some progress to sports.
“Hamidin has been having a terrible week and is piled up with a lot of unnecessary issues that he has to handle which are out of his jurisdiction.
“The man needs a break, and it would be great if online critics could stop pressuring him too much, which may end up in him taking a drastic decision to quit his existing posts.
“If he quits all the sports bodies he’s involved in, it will be a loss to the industry, as he is someone who’s visionary and always gives importance to the development of sports, especially football.”
At the same time, another official echoed a similar sentiment, saying that it is unfair to blame Hamidin for issues happening in the MFL.
“Whatever MFL has decided on sanctions imposed by them on Selangor has nothing to do with Hamidin, as the decisions were made by the MFL board of directors.
“Understandably, Hamidin is the main face of FAM, but that doesn’t mean that MFL matters also fall under his jurisdiction. MFL is an independent body and has nothing to do with Hamidin.
“Hamidin only got involved in this Selangor issue as he received a decree from the Sultan of Selangor. We need to give him credit for trying to solve the issue on behalf of MFL in a diplomatic way.
“It’s sad to witness that the public doesn’t understand his true intentions and spreads lies and conspiracy theories about him, as his main intention is to see the sports industry grow as a whole,” the official added.
Before being elected as FAM president in 2018, Hamidin served as its secretary-general from 2013.
Under his leadership and through his appointment of national head coach Kim Pan-gon, Malaysia made history by qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar this year, on merit for the first time in 42 years. – June 30, 2024