World football's governing body, FIFA, has delivered a severe sporting and financial punishment to Malaysia after an investigation into the use of ineligible players.
Match Results Overturned and Fines Issued
The FIFA disciplinary committee has ruled that three of Malaysia's recent friendly international matches are now forfeited as 3-0 defeats. This decision, confirmed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) on Wednesday 17 December 2025, overturns the original results. Malaysia had drawn 1-1 with Cape Verde and beaten both Singapore (2-1) and Palestine (1-0).
In addition to the sporting sanction, FAM has been fined an extra 10,000 Swiss francs. This comes on top of a previous penalty from September, where FIFA suspended seven naturalised players for 12 months and imposed a 350,000 Swiss franc fine (approximately $439,257) for the use of false documentation in an Asian Cup qualifier.
A Widening Scandal and Planned Appeal
This case marks the latest development in a growing scandal that has rocked Malaysian football. FIFA dismissed an appeal from FAM last month and has since announced a formal investigation into the association's operations. The global body also plans to notify authorities in five countries about potential criminal proceedings related to the forgeries.
In response, the Football Association of Malaysia has stated its intention to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The association said it will first request the detailed reasons for FIFA's decision from the disciplinary committee before determining its next steps.
Domestic Fallout and Demands for Accountability
The scandal has provoked significant anger within Malaysia. Fans and lawmakers are demanding answers and accountability from both FAM and relevant government agencies. Under intense pressure, the association suspended its secretary-general last month and established an independent committee to probe what it described initially as a "technical error".
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has intervened, vowing full transparency in domestic investigations. He stressed that FAM should be given the opportunity to defend itself properly throughout the process.
The ruling against Malaysia came during a busy period for FIFA, which also announced a fixed-price structure for some 2026 World Cup tickets following a backlash over initially high costs.
