The leadership of the Football Association of Malaysia has been urged to resign following disciplinary sanctions imposed by FIFA.

27/12/2025 18:23:00 FieldFrenzy

Football analyst Zakaria Rahim has called for the entire Executive Committee of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to step down after FIFA issued penalties related to the scandal involving forged documents of seven naturalized players.

According to Zakaria, the FAM leadership must take responsibility for this incident to enable a full overhaul of the national football governing body.

"If the FAM Executive Committee truly loves Malaysian football and does not want it to be buried… especially since football will be a sport at the 2027 SEA Games held in Kuala Lumpur, then they should resign honorably," Zakaria wrote.

FAM headquarters in Petalling Jaya

He believes that holding on to power would demonstrate that the leadership is placing personal interests above the interests of Malaysian football.

Previously, FAM filed a report at the Petaling Jaya police station on Wednesday concerning allegations of forged documents by seven naturalized players representing Harimau Malaya.

The players involved are: Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garced, Imanol Machuca, and Rodrigo Holgado.

Acting FAM President Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said the police report was made based on recommendations from the independent investigation committee.

Moreover, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is facing a financial crisis exceeding 8 million Malaysian ringgit (RM) after FIFA imposed penalties related to the use of seven naturalized players accused of forging documents.

The national football governing body of Malaysia was fined 350,000 CHF by FIFA and now must bear significant legal expenses to appeal the sanctions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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