Major turmoil! Malaysia's coach faces calls for dismissal

The comments made by head coach Peter Cklamovski following Malaysia's 3-0 win against Laos have triggered a major dispute in Malaysian football, as legend Datuk Jamal Nasir called on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to dismiss the Australian coach for "overstepping boundaries."

After leading Malaysia to victory over Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, the coach Peter Cklamovski unexpectedly caused a stir by openly criticizing FAM during the press conference. When asked about the 12-month ban imposed on seven naturalized players by FIFA for falsifying documents, he declared: “All the troubles happening with FIFA, whether administrative errors or anything else, are the responsibility of FAM.”

This statement immediately enraged the Malaysian public. According to FAM regulations, public remarks that damage the association’s reputation violate Article 58 and can result in penalties ranging from warnings and fines to suspension. In the past, coaches like Dollah Salleh and B. Sathianathan were punished for similar statements.

Former star Datuk Jamal Nasir—regarded as a Malaysian football legend—strongly condemned Coach Cklamovski. He believes the Australian coach went too far by attacking FAM, the organization he is working with.

“If it were me, I would immediately fire Cklamovski. When leading the national team, he is not only working for his employer but representing the entire country. He must respect FAM because without this association, the Malaysian team would not exist,” Jamal stated bluntly.

Not stopping there, Jamal Nasir also called on FAM to assert its authority and not remain silent about the incident. “FAM needs to speak up; it cannot stay silent forever. Fans have the right to know what is happening. If the association continues to keep quiet, it will lose trust. Malaysian football requires unity—from the association, players, to supporters—not mutual attacks,” he added.

The former Pahang defender also accused Cklamovski of “contradicting himself” by saying one thing but doing another. “When he first arrived, he always talked about unity, solidarity, and mutual respect. But now, he is the one causing division within Malaysian football. His words are severely damaging the team’s image,” Jamal expressed his frustration.

According to experts, this is the first time since the scandal involving seven naturalized players banned by FIFA that FAM faces dual pressure from both the public and influential figures like Jamal Nasir. Some members of FAM’s technical committee said they are reviewing the Disciplinary Committee’s report to make a decision in the coming days.

Datuk Jamal Nasir, born in 1954, was a key player for Malaysia’s national team during the 1970s and 1980s. He won two SEA Games gold medals, a Pestabola Merdeka title, was honored by the AFC in the Century Club, and was selected by IFFHS for Malaysia’s all-time best XI. Therefore, his voice carries significant weight among fans.

Currently, FAM has not issued an official response regarding Coach Peter Cklamovski’s future. However, according to several internal sources, the association’s leadership held an emergency meeting to assess the seriousness of his remarks. If found in violation of regulations, the Australian strategist could face severe penalties, including dismissal as demanded by legend Jamal Nasir.

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