Top Malaysian official declares no negligence regarding FIFA's penalty decision

Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports stresses the importance of carefulness by FAM during the FIFA appeal procedure.

Minister Hannah Yeoh urges the Malaysian Football Association to complete the appeal process with FIFA before initiating any investigations or other actions related to the player naturalization scandal.

Previously, well-known sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli proposed setting up an independent committee to investigate the matter. However, Hannah Yeoh believes this should be done in a proper sequence, avoiding any premature steps:

“Everyone has their own opinions because football is a highly beloved sport. I cannot review each suggestion one by one. I understand many want to act immediately, but I believe we should take it step by step. Let the appeal process conclude first.

Only then can we consider other matters, such as launching investigations or implementing improvements.Starting an investigation before the appeal is resolved would be premature.

I know everyone has good intentions and wants Malaysia to be cleared and to progress, but I hope people remain calm. Let FAM finish the appeal process, then we will discuss the next steps.”

FIFA concluded that FAM and seven naturalized players used forged documents to claim heritage rights and qualify for the national team. Consequently, FIFA fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs and banned the involved players from competition for one year.

FAM immediately responded, declaring it will appeal the entire FIFA decision, asserting the players did not intentionally violate rules and that the submitted documents were legitimate. Hannah Yeoh also called on fans to continue supporting the national team: “The players are not at fault in this matter and need encouragement from the fans. We must stand by the team, especially as they prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.”

With this statement, Hannah Yeoh sends a clear message that the Malaysian government does not want the issue to fade away quietly; at the same time, she urges FAM to be transparent, accountable, and to complete the appeal process before considering further measures.