KUALA LUMPUR: Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has resigned from the Fifa Council, a position he has held since 2015.
The world football body, in a letter addressed to the King, signed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura, stated that Al-Sultan Abdullah had sent in his resignation letter from the Fifa Council on Feb 8.
The world federation said they expressed their gratitude to Al-Sultan Abdullah for his services to world football.
“Thank you very much for your letter dated February 8, 2019 informing us about your resignation as Fifa Council member effective on January 24, 2019, which has caught our full attention.
“We cannot find the words to express to you. On behalf of Fifa and the international football community, our gratitude for your exceptional commitment and all the projects you have carried out in the various Fifa Committees since 1994, as there have been so many,” said the letter.
“You made a telling contribution to the development of football and to the promotion of our sport and its values around the world.
“We would like to thank you for this exceptional and invaluable service to Fifa and extend our deepest recognition for all your efforts to promote football, protect its integrity, bring the game to all and build a stronger institution in your country, in your region and in the world.
“There is no doubt that we will miss you, not only for your experience, knowledge and expertise but above all the person. We sincerely hope that our friendship and excellent relationship will continue in the future.
“Reiterating our sincerest congratulations on your remarkable contribution to our wonderful sport, we wish you the best for the accomplishment of you noble mission at the helm of the Kingdom of Malaysia and look forward to seeing you again soon.”
The following are among the world projects Al-Sultan Abdullah was involved in: Organising committee for Fifa Olympic Tournaments from 1994-1998, Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee from 1998-2002, Technical and Development Committee from 1999-2002 and 2007-2012, Ethics Committee from 1999-2002, Organising Committee for the Fifa Confederations Cup from 2002-2007, Football Committee from 2012-2017, Organising Committee for the Fifa World Cup, Organising Committee for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, Committee of Member Associations from 2015-2017, Fifa Council from 2015-2019.
Al-Sultan Abdullah, who was the FA of Malaysia president from 2014-2017, became the first Malaysian in 2015 to hold a post in Fifa since the late Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah.