The Australian head coach declares the rebuilding of the Malaysian national team following FIFA disciplinary sanctions.

The suspension of these players forced Cklamovski to adjust tactics mid-cycle, rebuild team cohesion, and prepare for key Asian Cup qualifying matches amid heavy public scrutiny.

“Although some key players cannot play, we will focus on those present at the training camp and ensure the whole team’s morale remains strong,” he said about the mission for the coming year. “The 11 players on the pitch and substitutes must finish the match with the mindset that they can beat any opponent.”

FIFA’s decision to nullify Malaysia’s friendly match results this year against Cape Verde, Singapore, and Palestine, awarding 3-0 wins to their opponents, ended the national team’s unbeaten run and caused Malaysia to drop from 116th to 121st in the world rankings.

“I am also standing on the sidelines like everyone else, just hoping for the best,” Cklamovski said.

The suspensions also directly affect players’ transfer values, contract negotiation advantages, and sponsorship chances.

This situation further harms Cklamovski’s reputation, his status in the football world, and even future career opportunities.

Now, he faces a long-term challenge: rebuilding a team capable of competing while maintaining momentum and team spirit.

“There are always ways to improve and challenge yourself to keep evolving,” he said.

The case was first revealed in September when FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee punished the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the seven players for allegations of forgery and document falsification.

The accusations included altering birth certificates to fabricate eligibility, violating Article 22 of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

Initially, FAM described the incident as a “technical error” caused by the administrative department.

However, in November, FIFA’s Appeal Committee upheld the sanctions, leaving FAM and the players with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as their final appeal option.

FAM has also filed a police report and confirmed it is conducting an internal investigation to identify those responsible for the allegedly forged documents.

On March 31, 2026, the Malaysian team will face Vietnam again, provided they are not disqualified by the AFC from the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.