The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been dealt a devastating blow as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially disqualified the national team from the 2027 Asian Cup contention. On Tuesday, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee overturned Malaysia’s previous qualifying victories against Nepal and Vietnam, citing the fielding of ineligible players who were represented using falsified naturalisation documents.
The disciplinary ruling has seen both matches converted into 3-0 forfeits against Malaysia, a decision that mathematically ends the nation’s hopes of advancing to the prestigious tournament. With only one match remaining in Group F, the forfeit leaves Malaysia trailing six points behind group leaders Vietnam. In addition to the sporting disqualification, FAM has been slapped with a US$50,000 fine, which must be settled within a 30-day period.
This development follows a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which partially upheld sanctions previously imposed by FIFA on seven specific footballers. These players, including Deportivo Alaves’ Facundo Garces and several Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) stars, were found to have used doctored documentation to suit eligibility requirements. While CAS reduced the initial total ban, the players must still serve a 12-month suspension from all official matches, though they are permitted to continue training with their respective clubs.
The list of sanctioned players involves several high-profile names such as Gabriel Arrocha, Rodrigo Holgado, and Imanol Machuca, alongside JDT’s Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. The controversy originally surfaced in September when FIFA discovered the discrepancies during an Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam. Furthermore, FAM remains liable for a substantial fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately US$444,275) as upheld by the arbitration body.
In a brief statement on its official website, FAM confirmed it would be requesting the full grounds of the decision from the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee. The national football body intends to review the legal reasoning behind the forfeits before determining its next course of action. This exit marks a dark chapter for Malaysian football, as the administrative errors have overshadowed the efforts of the squad on the pitch.
