Tunku Ismail said FAM has been compliant with the processes and has cooperated with both the global football body and the Malaysian government.
“What led to such a decision? Was there any external party that influenced FIFA’s decision?” he asked in a posting on X.
He called out FIFA for imposing the fine and suspension without providing solid reasons, and for quickly announcing its decision in a public domain, despite the fact that the appeal process from FAM has yet to be completed.
“Who was in New York? I hope that FAM will appeal this decision immediately,” he said.
Tunku Ismail said Malaysians should not be afraid and bow to “those individuals who are worried about the rise of Harimau Malaya”.
“Fight on. Be brave for being right,” he said.
Yesterday, FIFA’s disciplinary committee said FAM must pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.9 million). Meanwhile, each of the seven players were fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM11,000) and given a 12-month suspension, effective immediately.
The international football body cited breach of Article 22 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, which relates to forgery and falsification, in its decision against FAM.
The players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
All seven featured in Malaysia’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Vietnam on June 10, after which FIFA received a complaint regarding the eligibility of several of them.
FAM’s acting president, Yusoff Mahadi, said it will appeal against the decision by FIFA, and stressed that the association and the players involved had all acted in good faith and with full transparency throughout the process.
In July, an Indonesian report claimed that Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam on June 10 may be overturned because some of Harimau Malaya’s naturalised players were purportedly ineligible to represent the nation.
The report alleged that the result would be voided and Vietnam would be awarded a 3-0 win.
FAM dismissed the report as baseless, saying it had complied with the necessary procedures for the registration of the players.
Nine of the team’s starting 11 in the game were naturalised players, with five of them – Figueiredo, Holgado, Irazabal, Garces and Machuca – receiving FIFA clearance just hours before kick-off.
FAM must exhaust the appeal process, says Yeoh
Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh said the ministry took FIFA’s decision seriously and respects FAM’s right to submit an appeal.
She said the immediate priority is for FAM to exhaust the appeal process.
“The impact of this issue affects not only the seven players involved but also our entire national team,” she said in an Instagram post.