Top Malaysian football officials quit over foreign-born players scandal

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 28, 2026 at 08:54 AM

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The entire executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) resigned on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, amid a scandal involving foreign-born players. The resignations follow scrutiny after FAM fielded players with falsified documents claiming Malaysian ancestry in Asian Cup qualifying matches. FIFA had previously suspended seven players and fined FAM $400,000 for the false documentation, prompting an internal inquiry into FAM's governance. While the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) temporarily lifted the FIFA bans on the players, FAM's executive committee resigned to protect the association's reputation and allow FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to independently review the situation. The case is pending with CAS.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Spain 40% Argentina 40% Brazil 40% Netherlands 40% Vietnam ×250% Asian Football Confederation 60% Yusoff Mahadi 60% Asian Cup ×370% Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ×270% FIFA ×580% Malaysia ×390% Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) ×890%

Keywords

malaysian football 100% foreign-born players 90% eligibility row 80% football association of malaysia 80% fifa 70% resignations 70% asian cup qualifiers 60% false documents 60% governance 50% court of arbitration for sport 40%