Malaysia forms a special task force to investigate the naturalization scandal

EAIC has officially set up a special task force to probe the naturalization scandal that rocked Malaysian football, after FIFA suspended seven players and heavily fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) of Malaysia has formally created a special task force to investigate matters involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and FIFA, after seven naturalized players were suspended due to document-related violations.

In an official statement released on its platforms, EAIC stated that the task force was formed to clarify allegations regarding irregularities in verifying personal identification and the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the naturalization process of seven foreign-born players representing Malaysia.

According to the announcement, the special investigation team will be led by Datuk Dr. Prasad Sandosham Abraham, Vice Chairman of EAIC. Other members include commissioners Datuk Siti Zainab Omar, Datuk Seri Dr. Yusof Ismail, Datuk Ong Lam Kiat, and several senior officials from EAIC’s Operations Division.

“Based on the conclusions from the 11th Committee Meeting of 2025, EAIC has decided to conduct a comprehensive investigation into integrity, governance, and compliance with procedures in the management and verification of the players’ records involved,” the statement clarified.

EAIC emphasized that this investigation aims not only to determine FAM’s responsibility in the case but also to strengthen transparency and credibility of national sports organizations. The commission also called on all relevant parties to fully cooperate with the task force to ensure the investigation proceeds smoothly, fairly, and transparently.

Previously, FIFA upheld the suspension of seven naturalized Malaysian players for 12 months and fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (about 11.5 billion VND) for document fraud related to the players’ ancestral origins. This ruling shocked Malaysian football and prompted FAM to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The incident has attracted significant public attention, with many opinions suggesting that the EAIC investigation will play a crucial role in clarifying FAM’s level of responsibility and protecting the image of Malaysian football internationally.