In a major blow to Malaysian football, the world governing body FIFA has officially overturned the results of three international matches and upheld severe sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The decision comes after a protracted investigation into a scandal involving ineligible naturalised players, which has rocked the sport in the Southeast Asian nation.
FIFA's Final Verdict: Matches Forfeited and Fines Upheld
The FIFA disciplinary committee, in its latest ruling, has declared that Malaysia forfeit three friendly internationals played earlier this year. The matches in question are the 1-1 draw against Cape Verde on May 29, the 2-1 victory over Singapore on September 4, and the 1-0 win against Palestine on September 8. All three results have now been converted to 3-0 defeats for Malaysia.
Furthermore, FIFA has dismissed FAM's appeal against punishments originally handed down in September. This means the 12-month suspensions for seven naturalised players remain in force. The FAM itself must pay a total fine of 360,000 Swiss francs (approximately $451,000) – a combination of the original 350,000 franc penalty and an additional 10,000 francs related to the forfeited friendlies.
The Root of the Scandal: False Documentation and a Widening Probe
The crisis stems from a June Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam. FIFA's investigation found that false documentation was used to secure eligibility for the seven players, who had obtained Malaysian citizenship. The global body has stated it will launch a formal probe into FAM's internal operations and has taken the serious step of notifying authorities in five countries about potential criminal proceedings related to the document forgery.
The scandal has caused significant uproar within Malaysia. Fans and lawmakers have demanded accountability not only from the football association but also from government agencies responsible for processing the players' citizenship applications. In response to the internal pressure, FAM had previously suspended its secretary-general and formed an independent committee to investigate what it termed a "technical error."
Next Steps: FAM's Appeal and Political Fallout
The Football Association of Malaysia has confirmed it will continue to fight the sanctions. FAM plans to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. The association stated it will first request detailed reasons for FIFA's latest decision from the disciplinary committee before finalising its appeal strategy.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has intervened in the matter, vowing full transparency in domestic investigations. However, he also emphasised that FAM should be given the right to defend itself through the proper legal channels. The scandal presents a significant challenge for Malaysian football's reputation on the international stage as it navigates both sporting and potential legal repercussions.
