Malaysian fans react strongly to the 'free fall' on the FIFA rankings

The FIFA penalty not only caused Malaysia to drop sharply in the rankings but also sparked intense outrage and worry among its fans.

The latest FIFA punishment dealt a heavy blow to Malaysian football, as the national team was handed 3-0 losses for all three international friendlies. and suffered a significant deduction of points on the FIFA ranking. From hoping to improve their standing, Malaysia suddenly plummeted, leaving fans in shock.

According to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision, Malaysia was found to have fielded ineligible players in three top-level international matches against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine. All previous results were annulled and replaced with 0-3 defeats, accompanied by financial penalties imposed on the Football Association of Malaysia.

The direct consequence is that Malaysia not only lost the points they had earned but also suffered additional deductions due to the 0-3 forfeit scores. In total, the team lost 22.52 points, dropping five places to 121st in the world rankings. This steep fall has widened the gap between Malaysia and the leading Southeast Asian teams.

On forums and social media, Malaysian fans erupted in furious reactions. One supporter bitterly admitted: “The darkest chapter in Malaysian football history has begun; let's see what worse lies ahead.” Disappointment quickly turned into pessimism about the national team's future.

Many others expressed anger and shame over the severe damage to Malaysia's football reputation internationally. “Can this stop? Why keep making Malaysian football a laughingstock worldwide?” - a fan questioned with frustration, reflecting the shared mood among supporters.

Many are also worried about the ripple effects of this punishment. “This doesn't even include the Asian Cup qualifiers yet. If more points get deducted, could we end up at the bottom of the group?”, the fear of an even worse scenario is clearly present in fans' minds.

The outrage grew as many supporters blamed the short-term success mindset for the problems.“Just for immediate results, now we face these consequences!” and “We're not just moving backward; we're running backward!” were harsh criticisms showing how deeply Malaysian fans' trust has been eroded.

At this moment, FIFA's punishment not only dragged Malaysia down in points but also pushed the country's football into a crisis of confidence, with fans awaiting comprehensive changes in Malaysian football.