Malaysia continues to suffer a major shock due to the FIFA sanction

Coach Peter Cklamovski’s future is in doubt as Malaysia confronts a heavy punishment because of the controversy surrounding seven naturalized players. The crisis is jeopardizing Malaysia’s Asian Cup 2027 efforts.

The Malaysian national team faces the risk of losing its spot in the 2027 Asian Cup after seven naturalized players were found to have used forged documents, shaking the foundation of Coach Peter Cklamovski’s position. This is considered the toughest moment for Harimau Malaya in years, with potential long-term effects on FIFA rankings and the development goals of Malaysian football.

Sources from Scoop reveal a high likelihood of a split between Cklamovski and FAM as he risks losing his entire core squad. The source stated: "What’s the point of keeping Cklamovski if he loses his best players?" Internal assessments suggest the ripple effect from this incident could damage both the coaching staff and the team’s long-term stability.

The source added: "He is a very skilled coach, and we hope he doesn’t have to leave under these circumstances." The Malaysian team was built with the goal of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup, but the 12-month ban on seven players has disrupted all plans. FAM is awaiting the CAS ruling in early 2026 to determine the team’s future.

Former FAM official Christopher Raj believes the federation won’t be suspended, but Malaysia could be eliminated from the current qualifiers and might only return to international play in 2029. He warned that if they lose the case at CAS, Malaysia could face four years without competition and drop to a lower tier alongside teams like Nepal or Bhutan, which would reduce competitive opportunities and significantly impact player development.

The scandal erupted after players originally from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands were found submitting forged documents regarding Malaysian origins. FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs by FIFA and failed in its appeal. If the penalty stands, Malaysia could lose points, have results annulled, and face a scenario similar to Timor Leste’s past case. Will this drama conclude with an official ruling favoring the Vietnamese national team?

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