Yeoh’s political secretary, Yap Yee Vonne, said FAM’s statutes underline that the association must be run independently and “avoid any undue political interference”.

She also said that Fifa’s statutes outline that national football associations should not allow their affairs to be influenced by third parties.

“Even so, the ministry has taken the initiative to provide a sports dispute committee because the Madani government is committed to providing resolution channels for all sports, not just football.

“If everything needs to be solved by the minister, we might as well dissolve all associations and hand everything to Putrajaya.

“My advice: if you don’t understand sports governance structures, it’s better to stay silent,” Yap, an appointed DAP central executive committee member, said in a statement.

Neow accused Yeoh of washing her hands of FAM’s issues after the minister said she did not know of claims of internal politics in Harimau Malaya as her ministry did not interfere with FAM and the management of the national squad.

The MCA man said it was Yeoh’s responsibility to understand the issues in sports and look for solutions, instead of using the “excuse” of not wanting to interfere.

Neow, a special officer (international relations) to deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof, also said Yeoh should step down as minister if she was incapable of doing so.

Yap said Neow was free to criticise but should not be “lazy” with his facts, especially if his goal was simply to score political points.

“It is truly baffling that Neow, a special officer to another minister, can so blatantly violate public services department regulations by demanding the resignation of another minister.

“Neow is the clear manifestation of the split personality of MCA today in the Madani government,” she added.