Malaysian fans protest with banners in front of the the Football Association of Malaysia headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on March 17, 2026. Photo by X/@Fina_Nasrom |
Around 70 fans staged a protest in front of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) headquarters on Tuesday to protest the fraud involving seven naturalized players, carrying banners criticizing the federation and the Malaysian Football League (MFL), according to Daily News.
On social media, particularly under the official post of FAM about the forfeit losses, thousands of comments have flooded in, expressing disappointment, anger and a feeling of betrayal.
“A national shame,” a fan wrote.
This comment echoed throughout the comment sections, with fans arguing that the scandal has severely damaged the honor of Malaysian football.
“It all started from those at the top who always think they’re right. They are a burden, ignorant and a disgrace to the country,” another commented.
A fan bluntly criticized: “You were supposed to find legitimate players, but you falsified birth certificates instead. How stupid!”
Many opinions circulating online suggest this incident is the result of a misguided, poorly executed footballing revolution.
A user lamented the “stupid revolution” that is only serving to destroy their national football identity, while another fan simply responded to the federation by stating: “You have destroyed Malaysian football.”
“Enough, stop embarrassing the country,” a fan commented, while another called this “a dark chapter in Malaysian history.”
Many fans also expressed sympathy for the hard work of the local, homegrown players whose efforts have been overshadowed.
Other fans turned to bitter sarcasm and frustration as they worked hard to buy tickets only to witness fabricated victories, and demanded a refund.
The reaction on X was also heated, which fans accused FAM of ruining the future of the younger generation.
“How stupid. They are destroying the people’s sport. Our football scene is ruined,” a fan commented.
AFC’s ruling on Tuesday stripped Malaysia of its top spot in Group F and handed the qualifying ticket directly to Vietnam.
The scandal started when the FAM registered seven naturalized players using invalid documents. Following penalties from FIFA last September, including a 12-month ban for the players and hefty fines for the federation, FAM’s appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) were unsuccessful.
The FAM has stated it would request a detailed explanation from CAS before considering its next steps, potentially hoping to appeal and reduce the financial penalty as they attempted with CAS.
However, the Malaysian football fanbase is no longer interested in another appeal. As a supporter commented, this is a matter of national honor, not just a fine.
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