Recently, Southeast Asia’s football scene—especially online—was shaken by a shocking rumor: Malaysia was reportedly hit with severe sanctions by FIFA and the AFC over an illegal naturalized player scandal.
According to the buzz, Malaysia's national football team, Harimau Malaya, has been disqualified from various international competitions and their match results have been annulled. Several top officials from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have also been dismissed.
But how credible is this claim, really? Was Malaysia actually kicked out by FIFA for faking heritage documents of naturalized players? Let’s break down the facts one by one.
Where It All Began: From Investigation to Sensation
The story began with a foreign media investigation that raised suspicions over the sudden influx of foreign players into the Malaysian national team in early 2025. A number of players—previously active in second-tier clubs across Europe, such as in England, the Netherlands, and France—suddenly appeared wearing the Harimau Malaya jersey in friendly matches against Vietnam and Japan.
Strangely, these players had already obtained Malaysian citizenship within just a few months. Yet according to FIFA regulations, naturalization for national team eligibility is only valid through two official pathways:
- Residency: The player must have lived in the country for at least five years after turning 18.
- Ancestry: The player must have a parent or grandparent born in the country.
Many of these players reportedly met neither criterion. In fact, some were accused of using fake documents and fabricating ancestral ties.
One of the most notable cases involved Daren J Rizal, who claimed to have a grandmother from Johor—only to later be exposed as having fabricated that identity through a shady agency.
Mounting Allegations: Malaysia Accused of Violating FIFA Article 7
The story snowballed. Several Indonesian media outlets reported that FIFA had formed a special committee and, after a three-month investigation, concluded that Malaysia had violated Article 7 of the FIFA Regulations on the Eligibility of Players.
The AFC was also said to be furious, accusing the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) of institutional manipulation. Alleged sanctions reportedly imposed include:
- Disqualification of the Malaysian national team from all FIFA and AFC competitions until 2027, including the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, 2027 Asian Cup, and 2026 AFF Championship.
- Annulment of all match results involving the ineligible heritage players.
- A USD 2 million fine (approx. IDR 30 billion) against FAM.
- A five-year ban on recruiting heritage players, unless verified through a dual-verification process approved by FIFA.
- A full audit of all players within FAM’s organizational structure.
- Dishonorable dismissal of several top FAM officials, including FAM President Hamidin Mohd Amin.
Pretty explosive, right? But hold on... let’s dig deeper before jumping to conclusions.
Fact Check: What Did FIFA and the AFC Actually Say?
As the rumors heated up, we immediately turned to official sources to verify the claims. The result? No statements from either FIFA or the AFC confirmed any such sanctions. On both the official FIFA and AFC websites, there were no press releases mentioning any punishment against Malaysia.
In fact, quite the opposite: there are reports that FIFA has approved five of Malaysia’s naturalized players—Facundo Garces, Irazabal, Machuca, Figueiredo, and Holgado. This means they are officially eligible to represent the Malaysian national team. Garces has even already played in an official match against Vietnam during the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
It’s true that Garces’s background has sparked some controversy. He has never lived or played in Malaysia, and his ancestry has yet to be fully verified. However, as of now, FIFA has not issued any statement indicating a violation of regulations.
What About the Alleged Dismissal of the FAM President?
This part is actually the easiest to debunk. One of the most widespread claims was that FAM President Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin was dishonorably dismissed due to the scandal. But in reality, Hamidin voluntarily stepped down from his role as president back in February 2025.
Then, on June 30, 2025, he was officially appointed as FAM’s Honorary President during the FAM Extraordinary Congress. This appointment was described as a recognition of his more than 30 years of contribution to both national and international football. So clearly, there was no dismissal—let alone a dishonorable one.
Gossip Is Still Gossip. Facts Are Still Facts.
As of now, there is no concrete evidence that Malaysia has been sanctioned by FIFA or the AFC. No official statements, no formal confirmation, and no sweeping dismissals as widely claimed.
Of course, the naturalization process for players must be conducted transparently and in full compliance with regulations. But spreading unverified information only adds confusion and undermines the spirit of fair play that football stands for.
So for those of you wondering whether Harimau Malaya has been kicked out of international competition—this should give you some clarity. For now, Malaysia remains in the game, and the naturalized players approved by FIFA are still eligible to represent the national team.
