Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin has asked the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to support a presidential candidate that will bring back integrity to scandal-ridden International Football Federation (Fifa).

Calling the recent corruption scandal as highly embarrassing and damaging to football, Khairy also warned FAM to stay away from corrupt practices in governing the number one sport of Malaysia. 

"I would like FAM to look seriously into the matter and support a candidate who they feel can bring integrity back to FIFA.

"We must follow the developments closely and take this matter very seriously. We must ensure that first of all, our own association, the FAM, will continue to stay away from such corrupt practices.

"They (FAM) has not discussed it with me yet but I think all  international football federations are  reeling from the consequences of what has taken place," he told reporters after a soccer event in Kuala Lumpur today which saw the presence of legendary player Pele ( photo ).

On Wednesday, seven senior Fifa soccer officials were arrested in Switzerland on corruption charges and faced extradition to the US following a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups.

It was an unprecedented blow against soccer's governing body which for years has been dogged by allegations of corruption but always escaped major criminal case.

Rankings not everything

Khairy also asked FAM to do a detailed analysis on the Malaysian Selection friendly with Tottenham Hotspurs yesterday which came under heavy fire from  local fans.

"Well, I think FAM has to do a detailed analysis on what happened […] we gave up some friendly fixtures and disrupted some league schedule as well. I think they have to take this into account if they want to organise other friendlies like this," he said.

On the national team's football ranking, Khairy opined that rankings did not tell the whole story.

"Number one in the world ranking doesn't necessarily mean the team will win the World Cup.

"I believe FAM know this and are preparing some friendlies to enhance our ranking," he said.

Malaysia is now ranked 164 under Fifa's ranking, on par with minnows such as Bhutan (163), Grenada (165), Puerto Rico (166) as well as Hong Kong and Bangladesh at 167.