“The scandal ‘has shattered’ the trust between Malaysians and their national game, and this trust can only be rebuilt through accountability and stripping the guilty of their power.“
– Free Malaysia Today
MALAYSIA has long been a football-loving nation. Our stadiums may not always be full, but the passion runs deep. That passion has now been betrayed in the most shameful way by those entrusted to protect the integrity of our game.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been fined nearly RM1.8 million by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee for breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code relating to document falsification. Seven “heritage” players who represented Malaysia in June’s Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam have been banned for 12 months.
Worse still, Malaysia’s 4-0 victory that night may yet be overturned into a forfeit defeat. This is no mere technical lapse. This is a national disgrace, a humiliation that has dragged Malaysia’s name through global mud.
FAM’s explanation so far has not been convincing. Officials have admitted there was a “technical error” in the submission of the players’ documents by administrative staff.
But what exactly does that mean? How can a so-called error be serious enough for FIFA to conclude falsification took place?
Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament, Ramkarpal Singh, is right: FAM must disclose, in detail, the nature of this error, who was responsible, and why safeguards failed. Anything less will only fuel suspicion that this was more than a clerical mistake.
Was this incompetence, or the negligence of a few whose action had smeared the good work of FAM to restore Malaysia’s soccer supremacy in the region? FAM’s vague response suggests either a cover-up or gross negligence. Both are unforgivable.
This was not the registration of one fringe player, but seven first-team footballers, half the starting line-up, including goal-scorers such as Joao Figueiredo. These were not accidents lost in paperwork; these were the very pillars of Harimau Malaya’s so-called football revolution.
For years, Malaysians have tolerated mediocrity in football leadership, but this scandal cuts deeper. As sports analyst, Datuk Pekan Ramli, noted, “The trust we placed in those who claimed to be experts has been betrayed.”
Fans believed in FAM’s grand project of rebuilding Malaysian football through heritage players. We celebrated when Harimau Malaya stunned Vietnam 4-0 at Bukit Jalil.
But today that victory is tainted. Those goals, those celebrations, could vanish from the record books if FIFA invalidates the result. This is the real cost of mismanagement, not just a monetary fine, but shattered credibility, wasted dreams, and international shame.
Some voices are already suggesting Malaysia was targeted by jealousy, sabotage, or foreign complaints. This is just a deflection.
FIFA is not some fly-by-night organisation. It is the world’s most powerful sporting body, with decades of experience in handling eligibility cases. To suggest they were manipulated or swayed by sentiment insults their professionalism.
Pekan Ramli dismissed these claims as nonsense: “We made mistakes, and we must accept the punishment.” He is right. The more we point fingers elsewhere, the more foolish we look to the world.
This culture of blame-shifting is sadly familiar in Malaysia: feign ignorance, blame juniors, claim conspiracy, and hope the storm passes. But football fans and the public cannot allow some people to wriggle away this time.
If FAM has any sense of honour left, the officials involved must take responsibility. Those who presided over this fiasco should step down immediately. Do not wait to be sacked, do not cling to positions until being forced out. Be man enough to admit fault and go.
Leadership is about accountability. If you fail, you step aside. Instead, some people talk about appeals and “technical errors”. Appeals may buy time, but they cannot buy back dignity.
Resignations alone, however, are not enough. We need systemic reform. We need a new team at FAM with competence and independence from political interference.
This scandal is not only about football. It reflects the wider sickness in our institutions. When leaders treat rules as obstacles to be bent or bypassed, when “shortcuts” become standard practice, when excuses are easier than solutions, corruption festers.
If document falsification can happen at the heart of our most beloved sport, what stops similar problem from emerging in other sectors? This is why the matter must not be brushed aside.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has so far distanced itself, claiming the issue falls outside its jurisdiction. But the public deserves a full investigation, whether by MACC, Parliament, or an independent panel. If there was fraud, those guilty must face the law. If this was negligence, disciplinary action must follow. Silence is not an option.
What now for Malaysian football? The immediate damage is clear: seven banned players, a fine of RM1.8 million, and the likely forfeiture of key results. Our Asian Cup campaign lies in tatters. But there is also opportunity in crisis. Perhaps this is the painful lesson we need to finally fix our football.
FAM must reveal the exact nature of the so-called error and the names of those responsible. Independent auditors and investigators must be brought in to review the heritage player registration process. New governance safeguards must be built to prevent future lapses. Most importantly, Malaysia cannot continue to depend solely on naturalised heritage players.
We must invest in youth, coaching, sports science, and grassroots development. The long-term health of Malaysian football lies not in shortcuts but in nurturing local talent. Above all, Malaysians must demand transparency and accountability. We cannot afford to shrug and move on.
At the end of the day, the taxpayer is footing this scandal; RM1.8 million will not come from thin air. Ordinary Malaysians will pay for the incompetence of a few officials. But the deeper cost is intangible: the shame of seeing Malaysia’s name dragged before FIFA, the humiliation of being known globally not for our victories but for our dishonesty.
This is why those responsible cannot be allowed to continue. Malaysian football deserves better. The players deserve better. The fans deserve better.
This is a national shame, exposed for the world to see. But shame can also be cleansing, if we face it honestly. If FAM is serious about reforms, the people responsible will step aside, and allow new blood to rebuild trust.
If they cling on, pretending nothing is wrong, then they confirm what many already suspect: that they care more for position than for the sport they claim to serve.
The choice is theirs. But the demand must come from us. Nothing less will do. There are still a lot of good people in FAM who can assist to cleanse Malaysian football.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at rajlira@gmail.com
