Malaysian player 'illegal naturalization' case may face criminal investigation

Those connected to the fabrication of naturalization records for the seven Malaysian players are entirely likely to confront criminal accusations and sanctions should the inquiry establish unlawful conduct.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has officially rejected the appeal filed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) regarding allegations of fraud in the naturalization of seven players. Not only is the FIFA penalty upheld, with a 99% probability of being deemed to have lost the two matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, this matter may extend beyond the football sphere.

Specifically, according to sources from Stadium Astro, the Royal Malaysia Police may conduct a deeper review of the responsibilities of individuals within FAM, particularly the departments involved in processing and finalizing the players' naturalization documents. If signs of legal breaches are discovered, the case could entirely be shifted towards a criminal investigation. Previously, the entire FAM executive committee collectively resigned.

At that point, Malaysian football is likely to enter a period of considerable turmoil, as the federation's reputation is severely damaged by the document forgery scandal. Simultaneously, the national team and the implicated players must also confront very heavy sanctions, further escalating the tension.

Moreover, clubs in the Malaysian top-flight league will also be directly impacted. Among the seven players confirmed to have violated rules, four are currently playing for domestic clubs, mostly belonging to Johor Darul Tazim (JDT). This puts the clubs at risk of point deductions not only domestically but also in other international competitions.

Regarding the national team, CAS's unfavorable ruling means the "Malayan Tigers" are highly likely to receive severe punishment from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The heaviest penalty could be a 0-3 forfeit for the two matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers that featured illegally naturalized players, against Nepal and Vietnam respectively.

In addition to adjusting match results, AFC still has several other disciplinary measures at its disposal. Possible considerations include annulling all achievements the team has attained in the current campaign, or even disqualifying them from the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Furthermore, FAM may also face additional financial penalties.

In the coming period, AFC is expected to soon announce disciplinary decisions against the Malaysian national team and FAM, before their final Group F match in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against the Vietnam national team, scheduled for late March.