AFC President Speaks Out, Malaysian Football Receives Good News in Asian Cup Qualifiers

Despite widespread speculation about a possible FIFA suspension, Malaysian football remains free of any ban, and the team is set to visit Vietnam later this March.

In recent months, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has become the focus of regional attention due to allegations involving allegedly forged documents. Some sources even suggested Malaysia might face an international competition suspension. However, the latest official information from Asia indicates that scenario has not occurred.

For now, FAM has been fined 350,000 Swiss francs by FIFA. Nevertheless, AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John emphasized that this is only an initial disciplinary measure. He stated: “This penalty directly relates to the disciplinary case. The governance investigation will be conducted separately by FIFA.”

According to Windsor’s explanation, FIFA is handling the matter through two independent channels. The first concerns competition activities and technical regulations, where the financial penalty has been imposed.

The second, more serious channel focuses on FAM’s internal governance, aiming to clarify “who handled the documents, through which stages they passed, and whether this is an individual misconduct or a systemic issue”. Only when this investigation begins will FIFA investigators officially get involved.

In that case, several senior Malaysian football officials might be summoned, including acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi and key figures involved in handling the documents. The goal is to trace the document trail and clearly assign individual responsibilities.

What matters to Malaysian fans and the region is that AFC Secretary General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John confirmed: “At this moment, the Malaysian team is not facing any risk of FIFA suspension. Any further decisions depend on the final investigation conclusions.”

He stressed that suspension would only be considered if the investigation reveals widespread violations affecting the entire organization rather than just a few individuals.

Therefore, Malaysia is still allowed to participate in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, including the away match against Vietnam on March 31. AFC also expressed hope that all legal procedures, including possible appeals to CAS, will be resolved before this date to avoid disrupting the match schedule.

Currently, all signs indicate that Malaysian football has not crossed the “red line” leading to suspension. Until a final ruling from FIFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sport is issued, Malaysia’s team status remains valid, and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying schedule remains unchanged.

The match against Vietnam at the end of March will therefore proceed as planned, while all attention now focuses on the upcoming investigation results – a factor that will determine whether Malaysian football merely faces a temporary storm or more severe consequences in the future.