Southeast Asian media collectively react as Malaysia is handed three 0-3 forfeits by FIFA

FIFA’s ruling to forfeit all three matches of the Malaysian national team with a 0-3 scoreline has generated intense backlash from Southeast Asian media, as Malaysian football faces a severe trust crisis.

On December 17, 2025, the Disciplinary Committee of the International Football Federation officially issued a verdict concerning the case of Malaysia Football Association’s use of ineligible players. Accordingly, FIFA determined that FAM violated Article 19 of the 2025 FIFA Disciplinary Code and declared Malaysia’s national team defeated 0-3 in all three international friendly matches at level 1 held this year, along with imposing a fine of 10,000 CHF.

The forfeited matches include the 1-1 draw against Cape Verde on May 29, the 2-1 win over Singapore on September 4, and the 1-0 victory against Palestine on September 8. These results have been completely annulled from Harimau Malaya’s record, delivering another heavy blow to Malaysia’s team image and FIFA ranking.

Immediately after the verdict, Southeast Asian media outlets widely reported with a harsh tone. Thailand’s Goal highlighted the retrospective nature of the penalty, stating “FIFA applies a retroactive penalty, punishing Malaysia with three consecutive losses due to the illegal use of naturalized players”.

This publication also noted that the investigation originated from suspicions surrounding the expedited naturalization process of certain players, concluding that “the documents submitted by FAM contained systematically misleading information”.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency confirmed full legal details of the penalty and cited FAM’s statement, which clarified “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Mr. Jorge Palacio, concluded that FAM fielded ineligible players in three level 1 international matches”. Bernama also reported that FAM will submit a formal request to clarify the basis of the decision before determining next steps.

In Indonesia, Bola newspaper assessed this as a sign that Malaysia’s football crisis is worsening. “Malaysian football continues to sink deeper into crisis after FIFA annulled two wins and one draw from the record”, the paper wrote, warning that the penalty will directly impact Malaysia’s FIFA ranking, currently positioned at 116th worldwide.

Regional newspapers also specifically noted that this penalty falls under FIFA’s direct jurisdiction because it involves international friendly matches. Meanwhile, other cases related to the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers are still under appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This has led Southeast Asian public opinion to question the further consequences FAM might face.

Amid ongoing negative regional media coverage, the image of Malaysian football is severely damaged. FIFA’s latest ruling not only changes on-field results but also becomes a focal point for debate about management, transparency, and the legitimacy of player naturalization processes, pushing the "Malayan Tigers" into a turbulent phase just before further decisions from AFC and CAS are announced.