FAM hits back at 'baseless' claims over naturalised players
FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub insisted the governing body had followed all proper procedures and dismissed the swirling accusations as baseless.
"FIFA have checked. We followed the rules and regulations," he told Timesport on Thursday.
The controversy was sparked by Indonesian outlet Disway ID, which alleged that Harimau Malaya's victory on June 10 could be overturned — with Vietnam awarded a 3-0 win instead.
The report also claimed that FAM could be fined US$2 million (RM9.4 million) and face further sanctions if FIFA finds evidence of document manipulation involving players heritage.
Five newly naturalised players — Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Hidalgo and Jon Irazabal — made their debuts in that match, prompting critics in Indonesia and Vietnam to question the legitimacy of their Malaysian ancestry.
FAM has already stated that the players' naturalisation processes were fully vetted and approved by FIFA.
However, Indonesian media claimed that an internal probe by the world body had uncovered inconsistencies in the documentation.
As of now, neither FIFA nor the AFC have issued any official statement, and no formal complaints have been made public.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence or action, the issue has gained traction among Southeast Asian football fans, especially on social media, with many demanding a formal investigation.
Peter Cklamovski's side currently top Group F with six points, followed by Vietnam and Laos (three points each) and Nepal (zero). Malaysia opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Nepal in March before their dominant victory over Vietnam.
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