A staff member walks past a logo of football's international governing body Fifa at their headquarters in Zurich May 27, 2015. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Malaysia’s hosting rights for Fifa’s 2017 congress have been revoked by the international football governing body because some delegates reportedly faced difficulty obtaining travel visas.

According to sports portal Four Four Two, Fifa informed the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) of their decision on Tuesday.

FAM has kept mum so far but is expected to raise the issue during an executive committee meeting on Monday.

Among the countries for which there was difficulty obtaining travel visas was Israel, with whom Malaysia does not have a diplomatic relationship, meaning their citizens are unable to travel freely between both countries.

Malaysia was awarded the hosting rights in 2013, and this congress was scheduled to hold the voting session that will decide the host nation of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

FAM president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah recently said that he was in the midst of leaving his post with the national football governing body.

FAM has also been dogged by controversies including a corruption allegation made by Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim recently.

Four of Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) footballers also quit the national team last month shortly after Tunku Ismail, who is the president of JDT, criticised the training regime in the national team.