In September 2025, FIFA has imposed fines and suspension to seven players who have played for the Malaysia national football team. The world governing body has alleged that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have provided forged documents for seven foreign-born Malaysian players.[1] FAM has denied wrongdoings and has appealed the sanctions.
Tunku Ismail also owns Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. (JDT), a club that he has heavily financed and which has maintained dominance in Malaysian domestic football for over a decade.[2] Between March to June 2025, the FAM processed the FIFA eligibility for seven players by submitting their and their grandparents birth certificates. FIFA cleared the players and were ruled eligible to play for the Malaysian national team.[2][5]
All featured in Malaysia's 4–0 win against Vietnam in the 10 June 2025 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers match.[3]
FIFA investigation and sanctions
FIFA received a anonymous complaint a day after the Vietnam game disputing the eligibility of the seven players.[6] In August 2025, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings agaisnt the FAM. This action was not known to the general public.[2]
On 26 September, FIFA announced its imposing a fine of CHF 350,000 (approximately RM 1.9 million) on FAM, while the seven player received an individual fine of CHF 2,000 (about RM 10,560) and a 12 month suspension from all football related activities.[7] This was when the scandal became known to the public.[2]
FIFA released an official report on 6 October detailing falsifications concerning the players' eligibility, including the alleged birthplaces of their grandparents. While the FAM claimed that the seven players had grandparents born in Malaysia, FIFA discovered that their grandparents had in fact been born in Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands.[8][9]
Reactions
The scandal has put the FAM as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Registration Department (NRD), the government agencies responsible for handling Malaysian citizenship has been subject of scrutiny from Malaysia football fans and legislators.[10][11] The FAM acknowledged "technical errors" on the document submission but maintained that the seven players are Malaysian citizens.[12]
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says that the issue is about the seven players' compliance under FIFA eligibility rules rather than their citizenship. He says that birth certificates are not required for naturalisation under Malaysia's Constitution and maintained that the players satisfied the prerequisites required to obtain citizenship which includes good conduct, the required residency period and Malaysian Malay proficiency using ministerial discretion on residency requirements.[11][13]
Tunku Ismail and former sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin questioned the FIFA sanctions. Tunku Ismail alleged that an external party might have influenced the world football body. Both questioned FIFA's apparent reversal since the seven players were already cleared to play.[12] The NRD denied involvement in the alleged falsification of documents.[14]
Criticism of government priorities
The scandal also drew attention to the plight of stateless individuals in Malaysian states such as Sabah,[15] as well as the complex citizenship status of foundlings born in Malaysia and children born to unmarried Malaysian mothers. Critics pointed out the opaque citizenship process in Malaysia, noting that individuals with genuine ties to the country are often denied citizenship. In contrast, citizenship were readily granted to foreigners under questionable circumstances, including cases involving falsified documents for football players. This raised concerns about the government's misplaced priorities.[3]
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