The dismissal of the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) appeal to FIFA’s Appeals Committee on Monday was not a surprise at all.

Ask any Malaysian football fan and you will probably hear that “FAM deserves it.”

This reaction reflects the deep frustration that Malaysians have long harbored toward our football governing body.

For decades, FAM has been seen as inefficient, lacking accountability, and out of touch with the realities of modern football management.

The latest fiasco, which led to FIFA’s rejection of FAM’s appeal, only reinforces the perception that the national body has failed to uphold professionalism and integrity in handling football matters.

With FIFA’s decision, meaning that FAM is probably guilty of all the alleged charges, Malaysia’s premier football body is now truly a national embarrassment.

I will stop short of using “a national disgrace,” as a face-saving gesture to some of the more responsible officials in FAM.

So, what is the story behind the current mess that FAM has found itself embroiled in?

Two months ago, FIFA has officially sanctioned FAM and seven foreign-born players for allegedly using “doctored documentation” when they were registered to play for the country.

FAM was fined RM1.9 million and the players was suspended for 12 months.

This followed an episode on June 10 this year when Malaysia beat Vietnam 4-0 in an Asian Cup Qualifier. In that match, a number of foreign-born players were fielded.

After that match, there were complaints raised about the eligibility of several of those players—that their documentation or naturalization status (i.e. whether they were properly eligible to represent Malaysia under FIFA rules) may not have been legitimate.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee investigated, and found that seven foreign-born players had breaches of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, concerning forgery and falsification of documents.

What is of great concern is that the allegation against FAM indicates the involvement of fraud, which means wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.

Fraud is a serious crime and FAM is in deep trouble. With Monday’s verdict, FAM has committed fraud, in the eyes of FIFA at least.

Is it any surprise that public sentiment has been overwhelmingly negative against FAM?

Many fans feel embarrassed that Malaysian football is once again in the headlines for the wrong reasons—not for achievements on the pitch, but for administrative blunders.

The association’s inability to protect Malaysia’s image on the international stage, coupled with poor domestic league performance and declining fan interest, paints a picture of an organization that has lost public trust.

Indeed, the sense of national embarrassment runs deep because football, once a unifying pride for Malaysians, has been dragged into disrepute by its own administrators.

In truth, the FAM’s problem goes beyond this particular episode. It is symptomatic of a system that has resisted reform for too long.

Fans have often called for new faces, greater transparency, and more professionalism in football governance, yet little seems to change.

The failure of the appeal at FIFA only confirms what many already believe that FAM needs a total overhaul, not another round of excuses.

Until the association rebuilds its credibility and reconnects with the public, Malaysian football will continue to struggle both on and off the field.

Moving forward, there is the crucial question which FAM must ponder—how can it make amends for their frequent blunders and win back the support of Malaysian football fans.

I think that the first and most urgent step must be acknowledgment and accountability.

FAM can no longer hide behind excuses or blame subordinates for technical mistakes.

It needs to issue a transparent report on what went wrong in the naturalized players’ case, who was responsible, and what corrective actions are being taken. Only with openness can it begin to mend its image.

Then, FAM must embark on deep structural reforms. This means moving away from the old culture of bureaucracy and political appointments toward genuine professionalism and merit-based leadership.

Third, to reconnect with fans, FAM has to deliver visible results on the field. Malaysians are passionate football supporters, and their disillusionment stems largely from years of poor performance.

FAM should also communicate better—engage with fans directly, listen to constructive criticism, and rebuild a sense of shared purpose.

Only consistent reform and honest leadership, not words, will convince Malaysians that the association deserves their support again.

Finally, I wish to state that no matter how FAM tries to justify its decision of fielding the seven foreign-born players, I will have difficulty in accepting ‘non-Malaysians’ to play for my country.

I would still love to have players named Mokhtar, Chin Aun, Arumugam and Santokh, James and Hassan, in our national team rather than those from Europe or Latin America, just because of their distant Malaysian link.

There will be no joy or pride in me even if Malaysia were to win the World Cup with foreign-born players. It is good enough if we are able to bring home the Suzuki Cup (Southeast Asian level) now and again.

It is okay too if we are never crowned the Asian Football Champion. Let’s win or lose with trust and hope in our very own Malaysian footballers.

That should be the way to go!

(Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at [email protected].)