In a statement today, Malaysia national team Chief Executive Officer Rob Friend said he respects the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) process but does not accept the penalty. "This matter is being reviewed through appropriate legal channels", he said.
Before receiving the AFC penalty, Malaysia had appealed through various levels at FIFA, taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but without success. However, Friend's latest statement indicates they have not accepted defeat. The "review of appropriate legal channels" implies Malaysia is still seeking other possibilities, potentially internal procedures or further legal steps, to clarify or mitigate the penalty.
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Malaysia national team Chief Executive Officer Rob Friend. Photo: *Bernama* |
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) penalty for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is based on Article 56 of its disciplinary code, concerning the use of ineligible naturalized players. The main issues relate to documents proving players' origin and place of birth, which were concluded to be invalid or show signs of forgery.
Consequently, two Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches against Vietnam and Nepal had their results nullified, turning into 0-3 defeats for Malaysia. This resulted in a total deduction of 6 points, causing them to drop from the top of Group F to second place, thereby losing their spot in the Asian Cup 2027 to Vietnam.
FAM was also fined 50,000 USD. The organization's reputation was severely impacted, with many fans viewing this as a "national disgrace". Nevertheless, Friend affirmed that Malaysia will "continue to compete on the international stage".
He stated that the team's immediate priority remains unchanged: supporting players and coaching staff to maintain their best condition to compete with professionalism, unity, and pride. "We are fully focused on preparing for the upcoming match against Vietnam, where the team will play with all the confidence, resilience, and discipline demonstrated throughout 2025", he added.
By Hoang An
