KUALA LUMPUR – Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Amin has accused former national head coach Kim Pan-gon of breaching his contract by signing with South Korean side Ulsan HD FC.
Despite his frustration over what he called Pan-gon’s “unprofessional” exit, Hamidin confirmed that FAM would not pursue legal action against the 55-year-old coach.
Hamidin revealed that Pan-gon left his role with the national team despite his contract being extended until the end of next year.
He said that FAM decided against suing or seeking compensation out of respect for Pan-gon’s contributions, particularly his role in boosting Malaysia’s FIFA ranking.
“It’s not right for him to sign a contract with Ulsan when he was still with us. He has clearly breached the terms and conditions of our contract, which runs until the end of 2025,” Hamidin said during a press conference at Wisma FAM today.
“If we wanted to be professional, we could have taken legal action against him by suing him or asking for compensation for the remaining year and a half of the contract.
“But we chose not to because we are kind enough and appreciate his contributions to the country, especially in terms of improving our FIFA rankings.”
Hamidin further elaborated on the events leading to Pan-gon’s departure, noting that after the World Cup qualifier against Chinese Taipei, Pan-gon took a two-week vacation and later requested an additional week before returning to Malaysia.
Upon his return, he asked to be released from his contract.
“I tried to persuade him to stay, but a day before I left for Mallorca, he pleaded once again to be released.
“While I understand the fans may be upset with FAM over this, my biggest disappointment lies in his subsequent statements, where he made excuses about not getting support and player releases,” Hamidin added.
Hamidin emphasised that FAM is the real victim, having spent years scouting Pan-gon before appointing him in 2022.
He also expressed his commitment to finding a better coach for the national team.
“I worked very hard to bring him on board and placed my trust in him, with the support of the FAM exco and input from technical directors I consulted from Australia, Iran, and Japan.
“Moving forward, I promise to find a better coach than Pan-gon,” Hamidin said.
Pan-gon played a key role in revitalising the national team, leading them to qualify for the Asian Cup on merit after a 42-year absence and achieving a second-place finish in the 2022 Thai King’s Cup and the 2023 Merdeka Tournament.
Under his leadership, Malaysia climbed from 154th to 134th in the FIFA rankings.
Pau Marti Vincente is currently serving as the acting head coach of Harimau Malaya. – August 29, 2024