'The nightmare' of Malaysian football shows no sign of ending

Malaysia's dream of competing in the Asian Cup faces a serious threat if FIFA and AFC do not amend their punishment rulings.

The Malaysian national team is undergoing its worst crisis in years after seven key naturalized players were banned by FIFA for 12 months due to suspected document fraud. This severe sanction not only sidelines nearly half of Malaysia's starting lineup but also seriously jeopardizes their goal of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

According to the schedule, Malaysia was set to play an away match against Laos in Vientiane on October 9, 2025, as part of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. However, just before the trip, FIFA announced a shocking investigation result revealing that seven of Malaysia’s naturalized players used invalid identity documents.

The banned players—Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—will be sidelined for a year, forcing coach Peter Cklamovski to urgently revise his tactical plans. This is a major blow to Malaysia’s ambitions, as these players were central to many recent important victories.

Before the scandal erupted, Malaysia showed impressive form by defeating Nepal and Vietnam in qualifiers and drawing with Palestine and Singapore in international friendlies. With a strong squad bolstered by naturalized players, Malaysians believed they could make a deep run in the 2027 Asian Cup.

Indonesia’s success in utilizing European-origin players has been regarded as a model for Malaysia to emulate. The press Reuters once described Indonesia reaching the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as a “historic boost” for Southeast Asian football.

Therefore, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), along with Prince Tunku Ismail Idris, owner of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) club, intensified player naturalization efforts to enhance competitiveness. However, this strategy backfired when three JDT players were included in the banned list.

Tunku Ismail openly criticized FIFA for “double standards,” accusing the organization of unfair treatment regarding naturalized players across countries. Under public pressure, FAM confirmed it has filed an appeal to FIFA and is considering taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The association also admitted to “technical errors” in verifying the players’ original documents.

Meanwhile, the AFC stated it will consider deducting points or awarding Malaysia forfeits in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers depending on the final appeal outcome. If this happens, Malaysia’s hopes of appearing on the continental stage will almost certainly vanish.

Malaysian media have labeled this the biggest scandal in the country’s football history since the 1994 match-fixing incident, which led to over 100 players being suspended. Fans have expressed deep disappointment and called on FAM to fully disclose the entire naturalization process.

Now, coach Peter Cklamovski’s team must face Laos with a patched-up squad, while fan confidence has been severely shaken. What was once a journey expected to bring Malaysia closer to the Asian Cup has turned into a nightmare for the nation’s football.