FAM’s top official: 'Not VFF, but someone in Vietnam filed a complaint to FIFA'

26/10/2025 13:59:00 GameGladiator

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim continued to disclose details about the individual who submitted the complaint against the Malaysian Football Association and 7 naturalized players to FIFA.

On October 25, the Malaysian Football Association held a press conference regarding FIFA’s recent sanctions on FAM and the 7 naturalized players. During this event, Malaysia’s Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim shared notable comments about the lawsuit and FIFA’s penalties. He revealed that it was not the Vietnamese Football Federation that filed the complaint to FIFA, but someone from Vietnam:

"I was informed by the AFC. After we defeated Vietnam, a complaint was filed, but I do not know who submitted it.

When I asked the AFC, they said the information did not come from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). It came from someone in Vietnam, but not from the federation. So, we do not know who it is — not the VFF Secretary General, nor the President. That’s what I was told," NST quoted Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

Sếp lớn FAM: 'Không phải VFF, một người Việt Nam đã nộp đơn kiện lên FIFA' 728953 — Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim at the press conference on the afternoon of October 25 (Photo: NST)

According to reports from the Malaysian Football Association, the complaint received by FIFA was dated June 11, just one day after the Vietnam national team lost 0-4 to Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Following this complaint, FIFA launched an investigation into the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) and 7 naturalized players including Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel, resulting in sanctions.

The Malaysian Football Association has filed an appeal to FIFA, and the decision is expected to be announced on October 30.

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