Despite the appeal, Malaysia is unlikely to escape FIFA's sanctions

The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail, believes that FIFA's decision to penalize FAM and seven naturalized Malaysian players is unlikely to be overturned despite FAM's appeal.

The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, stated that FIFA's sanctions against the seven naturalized players of the Malaysian national team and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) are very unlikely to be changed, even though FAM has submitted an appeal.

At a press conference on October 25, Tunku Ismail frankly expressed that the chance of FIFA reversing the decision is very slim, as the organization rarely withdraws sanctions unless there is new and compelling evidence.

“From my perspective, FIFA's decision will remain unchanged. If any change occurs, it might only involve additional penalties for FAM or the players involved,”said Tunku Ismail.

The Johor leader also mentioned that this incident serves as a major lesson for FAM, emphasizing the need for greater caution and transparency in the process of reviewing and registering naturalized players to protect the reputation of Malaysian football internationally.

Previously, FIFA imposed bans on seven naturalized players including Facundo Garces, Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, and Gabriel Palmero after detecting signs of document fraud in their international match registrations while representing Malaysia.

In addition to suspending their play, FIFA also fined these players and FAM, considering the actions a serious violation of international player registration rules.

According to the latest information, FAM has filed an appeal to FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, and the outcome is expected to be announced on October 30. Although there is still hope for a reduced penalty, many Malaysian football experts believe this is unlikely because the evidence presented by FIFA is clear and convincing.

While awaiting the final ruling, the seven naturalized Malaysian national team players remain suspended, causing the team to lose several key members ahead of crucial matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

This issue once again raises questions about FAM's management capabilities and transparency, reminding everyone that developing professional football cannot come at the cost of administrative negligence, especially when the nation's reputation is at stake.