Indonesian fans erupt in reaction as Malaysia is handed a 0-3 defeat by FIFA

The 0-3 penalty from FIFA against Malaysia sparked fierce reactions from Indonesian fans, mocking naturalization policies and awaiting the next decision from AFC.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed a severe sanction on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for fielding ineligible players. According to the ruling announced on December 12, 2025, the Malaysian national team was handed a 0-3 loss in all three international friendly matches, despite previously having a draw and two victories.

The three matches forfeited by FIFA included games against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine. Besides the annulment of results, FAM was fined 10,000 CHF. FIFA confirmed that Malaysia violated Article 19 of the 2025 Disciplinary Code, directly related to player eligibility. This decision triggered strong reactions within the Southeast Asian football community, especially among Indonesian supporters.

Immediately after the penalty was announced, Indonesian fans reacted strongly on social media. Many expressed satisfaction, calling it a “natural consequence.” One fan bluntly stated: “Malaysia should come to Indonesia to learn about the player naturalization process,” accompanied by thousands of interactions.

Some other fans recalled Malaysia’s past criticism of Indonesia. “They once mocked our naturalization, then they did the same, and here’s the final outcome, it’s hilarious!”, a comment that drew significant attention, reflecting widespread sarcastic sentiment among Indonesian football fans.

Quite a few opinions were even more harsh, directly targeting AFC. “It couldn’t be otherwise! I don’t understand why AFC delayed punishing this blatant cheating,” an Indonesian fan expressed frustration, saying Asia needs to take firm action similar to FIFA. Another agreed: “Malaysia should be handed 0-3 losses for every fraudulent match as a warning.”

Following Malaysia’s punishment, many Indonesian fans also linked it to the Asian Cup scenario. “So Vietnam will be the next Southeast Asian team to qualify for the Asian Cup, Indonesia welcomes Vietnam!”, a comment implied Malaysia is likely to face even harsher consequences.

Meanwhile, FAM is still appealing to CAS regarding the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, under AFC’s jurisdiction. However, with FIFA’s penalty, Indonesian fans believe Malaysia will suffer further losses both on the field and in reputation.