'AFC will forfeit Malaysia as FIFA did'

Following FIFA's cancellation of three Malaysian national team match results over breaches related to naturalized players, football circles in Malaysia worry that the AFC might issue additional penalties.

After FIFA declared the results of three Malaysia friendly matches null and void due to violations of naturalized player rules, the Malaysian football community is concerned that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will impose further sanctions on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

According to BH Sukan, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed last Wednesday that it has received sanctions from FIFA, including the annulment of three international friendly match results and awarding wins to opponents Singapore, Palestine, and Cape Verde.

This decision was not unexpected, as FIFA has taken a very strict stance on violations involving documentation of seven Malaysian naturalized players: Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.

Football expert and former Deputy Chairman of the Malaysian Coaches Association (PJBM), Zulakbal Abd Karim, commented The AFC is likely to "follow FIFA's lead" if the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejects FAM's appeal.

Mr. Zulakbal, currently a senior lecturer in Coaching Science at Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), believes that any upcoming decisions by the AFC should be accepted with an open mind.

“If FIFA has declared those seven players ineligible, then naturally the results of those matches lose their validity. We must see this as a lesson and the price to pay for management errors.”

He also warned that Malaysia should be prepared for the possibility of further match result cancellations in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, including victories over Nepal and Vietnam, since those players were also fielded in those games.

Besides forfeiting matches, Malaysia’s FIFA ranking is expected to drop sharply after the annulments. Meanwhile, AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John confirmed the organization is still awaiting the outcome of FAM’s appeal to CAS before making a final decision.

“Regardless of the outcome, Malaysian football must rise, rebuild its image and regain trust. The most important thing is to learn from this failure to achieve sustainable development,” Mr. Zulakbal emphasized.