Malaysian newspaper questions the transparency of FIFA's punishment

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee's ruling to forfeit the Malaysian national team 0-3 in friendly games has sparked numerous questions within the local fan base.

FIFA determined that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) violated Article 19 of the 2025 FIFA Disciplinary Code due to the use of players deemed ineligible to compete. Although FAM explained that the penalty was related to player eligibility issues, many fans believe the sanction is excessively harsh. What is more surprising is that these matches took place several months ago, yet the punishment was only imposed recently.

The timing and context of the punishment announcement have raised suspicions, as it coincides with FAM preparing to defend its position internationally, including plans to bring some FIFA decisions before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). To some fans, this penalty announcement seems like an early pressure tactic against FAM.

Some Malaysian media outlets like Makanbola argue that the decision does not fully align with the principles of sports fairness, even giving the impression that the world football governing body aims to create psychological pressure before the dispute is escalated. The case has attracted more attention as the files related to players of Malaysian descent (heritage players)are still under appeal and separate review.

Notably, the sanctions on the national team’s match results were announced first, while the player eligibility issue remains unresolved. This raises the question of whether FAM is facing institutional pressure, although the association insists it is pursuing its rights professionally and according to procedure.

In an official statement, FAM said it will request full explanatory documents from the FIFA Disciplinary Committee before considering further steps. Many fans have voiced support for FAM, emphasizing that the association deserves space to defend its stance at CAS without undue pressure.

For Malaysia’s supporters, this issue is not just about results on paper but also concerns the national football's honor and the fairness principle that every FIFA member should equally enjoy. Whether this decision is merely a coincidence in management or a subtle message from FIFA to FAM, only the upcoming CAS process will determine if justice will favor Malaysian football.