'Malaysia may successfully avoid a severe sanction from FIFA'

03/11/2025 11:12:00 esportapi

Facing the risk of a heavy penalty from FIFA over the case of 7 naturalized players accused of using forged documents, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) was unexpectedly "guided" to escape punishment — a path not through legal means, but through diplomacy.

According to Wall Pass magazine, FAM is appealing to FIFA's Appeals Court and may escalate the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if unsuccessful. However, experts from Wall Pass warn that "the legal route is almost impossible for Malaysia to avoid punishment." Instead, lessons from Indonesia in 2022 show that, "diplomacy is the key."

The magazine comments: "FIFA is not just a global football governing body, but also a complex political institution. Its decisions are heavily influenced by political factors, persuasion, and double standards. In such a context, the strongest arguments do not lie in legal documents but are conveyed through diplomatic channels."

Wall Pass advises FAM to learn diplomatic lessons from Indonesia to avoid harsh FIFA sanctions

The article cites a notable example from Indonesia. After the Kanjuruhan tragedy in 2022, which caused over 135 deaths, many expected FIFA to impose severe penalties. Yet, just a week later, President Joko Widodo declared that Indonesia would not be punished.

"Two days after the disaster, Widodo directly called FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Four days later, Erick Thohir — who later became the Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association — met Infantino in Doha to deliver a personal letter from the president. Those two exchanges completely changed the situation," Wall Pass revealed.

According to the magazine, Malaysia could adopt a similar approach to seek leniency. "The recent ASEAN summit might be an opportunity for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discreetly reach out to FIFA leaders. His regional influence could help FAM receive lighter consideration," the article analyzes. However, Wall Pass also emphasizes that Malaysia's case is "much more complex and serious" than Indonesia's.

The authentic birth certificates of Malaysia’s naturalized players have been publicly shared on social media

Evidence of forged documents by the naturalized players has spread widely on social networks, attracting international attention. "FIFA has verified the original birth certificates of all 7 players’ grandparents. Two of them — belonging to Hector Hevel and Facundo Garces — have been publicly posted online. This greatly reduces FAM’s chances of success, even through diplomatic channels," the magazine further notes.

Nevertheless, Wall Pass insists there is still "a faint glimmer of hope": "The door to clemency remains open, but to walk through it, Malaysia needs more than legal protection. They require strategic diplomacy, humility, and the ability to connect with FIFA."

If FAM seizes this opportunity, Malaysia could avoid severe sanctions and maintain its standing in international football. But if they continue to pursue purely legal appeals, the risk of being banned from international competition or excluded from regional tournaments is very real.

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