OFFICIAL: AFC issues penalty to Malaysia in Asian Cup qualifiers

A series of sanctions from FIFA and then AFC have placed the Football Association of Malaysia in a difficult position, as even minor administrative violations come with heavy consequences on the international stage.

Following a severe penalty from FIFA, Malaysian football faces more bad news as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially announces sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia related to two violations during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This information was released by the AFC Ethics and Disciplinary Committee after reviewing the match organization documents of the Malaysian national team.

According to AFC, the two violations committed by the Football Association of Malaysia occurred in the match between Malaysia and Nepal held on November 18 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. Although the Malaysian team won and secured full points, the match organization failed to fully comply with the operational regulations set by AFC for continental competitions.

The first violation concerns the match not starting on time. The first half began 1 minute and 20 seconds late, while the second half was delayed by another 1 minute and 30 seconds beyond the scheduled time.

AFC determined this breach violated Article 2.2 of the Match Operation Guidelines. Notably, this is not the first time the Football Association of Malaysia has committed a similar offense during a monitored repeat violation period, which increased the severity of the breach and resulted in a fine of 2,500 USD.

The second violation, considered more serious by AFC, directly relates to post-match media obligations. The Football Association of Malaysia failed to ensure that player Mohamad Faisal bin Abdul Halim — who was voted Man of the Match — attended the press conference as required. This breach violated Articles 4.3.8 combined with 31.3 of the 2027 Asian Cup Match Regulations, leading to an additional fine of 10,000 USD for the association.

In total, the Football Association of Malaysia must pay 12,500 USD in fines and complete payment within 30 days from the date of the AFC decision. AFC also emphasized that all penalties are applied strictly within the disciplinary framework and serve as a deterrent to member associations.

Notably, the AFC sanctions came just days after FIFA ruled Malaysia lost 0-3 in three international friendlies due to fielding ineligible naturalized players. FIFA found that the violation concerned player eligibility rules, causing Malaysia to lose points in the world rankings and forcing the Football Association of Malaysia to pay a substantial additional fine.

Regional experts see the consecutive penalties from the two highest football governing bodies in the world and Asia as a clear warning. One fan commented on social media: “Seemingly minor organizational and management mistakes are causing Malaysian football to pay a heavy price.”.

In the context of pursuing long-term goals, the Football Association of Malaysia must tighten discipline and strictly adhere to international regulations to avoid facing even harsher consequences in the future.