KUALA LUMPUR – FIFA has nullified the results of three Malaysia international friendlies after ruling that the team fielded ineligible naturalized players, dealing another blow to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in an escalating document forgery controversy.
The world football governing body’s disciplinary committee awarded 3-0 forfeits to opponents in matches against Cape Verde (May 29), Singapore (Sept. 4), and Palestine (Sept. 8). Malaysia had originally drawn 1-1 with Cape Verde and won 2-1 and 1-0 against Singapore and Palestine, respectively. FAM also faces a 10,000 Swiss franc fine on top of a prior 350,000 Swiss franc penalty from September.
This follows FIFA’s September suspension of seven players for 12 months over falsified documents used in a June Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam. FAM’s November appeal failed, prompting FIFA to announce a probe into the association’s operations and alerts to authorities in five countries about possible criminal acts.
FAM plans to seek detailed reasons for the decision before plotting next moves, potentially including another appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The scandal erupted after FAM suspended its secretary-general in October, blaming a “technical error,” and formed an independent review panel.
Public outrage has intensified in Malaysia, with fans and lawmakers demanding accountability from FAM and government bodies that approved the players’ citizenship. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged full transparency in local investigations while urging FAM to mount a robust defense. FIFA offered no immediate comment outside business hours.