From Leonard Yeoh and Sharon Teo

Harimau Malaya’s strong 3-0 and 5-1 victories against Laos in the AFC Asian Cup qualification came at a crucial moment for the nation.

The team showed great spirit despite missing seven key players suspended by Fifa.

These wins lifted national morale and reminded us how football unites Malaysians, especially in difficult times.

But behind those victories lies an issue we cannot overlook, that is, the naturalisation scandal that has shaken confidence in our football administration and cost the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) a RM1.8 million fine.

The centre of the controversy is a serious question raised by Fifa about how several heritage players came to wear the national jersey and whether the documents used to prove their Malaysian lineage were genuine.

Citizenship and eligibility

According to Fifa’s disciplinary committee, investigations found that the birth certificates submitted to justify the players’ eligibility were forged and/or falsified.

When Fifa compared the documents submitted by FAM with original birth records obtained from the relevant authorities in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands, the discrepancies were clear.

The Malaysian government admitted it never had the original birth records. Instead, it issued fresh birth certificates for the players’ grandparents based on secondary information and foreign documents because the handwritten originals could not be retrieved.

Our government has defended its decision, saying the citizenships were granted lawfully under the Federal Constitution. However, this raises questions as the provision relied upon generally applies to individuals who have resided in Malaysia, which these seven players have not.

Still, the key point remains that citizenship under Malaysian law is not the same as eligibility to play under Fifa rules.

Fifa’s regulations are clear. A player can represent a country only if they, or a parent or grandparent, were born there, or if they have lived there for a specific number of years.

Simply holding a Malaysian passport does not automatically make someone eligible to play for Malaysia in tournaments under the world football governing authority.

In short, you can be a Malaysian, but not eligible to play for Malaysia.

Lack of diligence has a price

Fifa noted that it obtained the genuine foreign documents (birth records) “without hindrance”, suggesting that perhaps FAM and the seven players had failed to carry out proper verification.

The committee went as far as calling the act of using falsified documents “pure and simple, a form of cheating”
that “cannot in any way be condoned”.

Any lapse in diligence now carries a heavy cost, financially, reputationally, and morally.

Our victories, once a symbol of unity and pride, now face questions of legitimacy. The collective effort of the players, officials, supporters, and even taxpayers risks being overshadowed by a scandal that could have been avoided with proper scrutiny.

While Fifa recognised FAM’s clean record as a mitigating factor, it does not change the core issue. Forgery and falsification are not clerical errors. They strike at the heart of integrity and fair play.

If FAM exhausts all legal avenues against Fifa’s ruling, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) may impose further sanctions, possibly even a temporary ban, a price paid not just by FAM, but by every Malaysian who has stood behind Harimau Malaya.

Possible criminal implications

The issue extends beyond football. If any person is found to have made, knowingly submitted or approved forged documents, this could amount to a criminal offence under Chapter XVIII of the Penal Code.

Forgery is a serious matter and an investigation, if warranted, should be carried out to show that integrity matters in both sports and governance.

Integrity must come first

As FAM pursues its appeal, it must present a credible defence. Football associations are responsible for ensuring that all documents submitted are genuine with no excuses.

Malaysia’s football has made great progress in recent years, with improved professionalism, better performance, and growing fan support. But one lapse in judgement has now cast a shadow over those achievements.

At the end of the day, integrity must come first. We can rebuild, appeal, and improve our systems, but we must never compromise on honesty.

Our victories should be ones we can celebrate with our heads held high, not ones clouded by controversy.

If FAM’s appeal fails, it will be a painful lesson for all Malaysians. Yet, it should remind us that Malaysia’s rise in football must rest not just on talent and passion, but also on diligence, transparency, and respect for the rules.

We all want to see Harimau Malaya roar louder on the international stage. But before chasing glory, we must first protect what matters most, our integrity as a nation.

Leonard Yeoh is a partner and Sharon Teo an associate with the law firm, Tay & Partners.

The views expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.