KUALA LUMPUR – Former national striker Safee Sali has urged the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) not to remain silent following the shocking revelations made by FIFA.
Speaking to Scoop, the 41-year-old, who was part of Malaysia’s 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup-winning squad, expressed his unwavering support for Harimau Malaya during what he described as a difficult period.
“FAM must do the work to file the appeal and follow the next steps in the process. Don’t stay silent. Focus on finding solutions, not just the problems we are facing,” he said.
“Every mistake comes with consequences, but what matters most now is how we all support the team to help them rise again.”
Safee also called on Malaysian football fans to remain united and not be swayed by divisive comments or provocations.
“Harimau Malaya will always be our pride,” he added.
Meanwhile, senior sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli said those responsible for the scandal must resign to restore FAM’s credibility and allow for a fresh start.
“It doesn’t matter who they are — any individual or group involved in this embarrassing fiasco needs to resign. There’s no need for the public or anyone to demand it. These people must have a sense of responsibility and shame,” said Pekan.
“As leaders, they must be accountable for their failures. If this had happened in Japan or South Korea, they might have even taken their own lives — but we don’t need to go to that extreme. Just resign.”
Pekan also warned FAM against pursuing a weak appeal that would only prolong the controversy and further tarnish the nation’s image.
“FAM shouldn’t waste time. What exactly are they appealing? Are they seeking a reduction in the punishment or trying to overturn FIFA’s decision? We must accept that FIFA made its ruling based on a thorough investigation.
“If FAM has strong evidence to dispute FIFA’s findings, then by all means, they should proceed. But if the evidence is weak, they should not waste time and money on this appeal.
“FAM must accept that they made a mistake and were caught by FIFA. It’s time to move on.”
The controversy erupted after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled on Sept 26 that FAM had submitted falsified documents to register seven heritage players for international duty.
The committee found significant discrepancies between the original birth certificates obtained by FIFA and those submitted by FAM to support the players’ eligibility.
The players involved — Facundo Garcés, Imanol Machuca, Héctor Hevel, Gabriel Palmero, Rodrigo Holgado, João Figueiredo, and Jon Irazabal — all featured in Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, a match now under review following an official complaint by Vietnam.
FIFA concluded that both FAM and the players had violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which prohibits the falsification and use of forged documents in official proceedings.
As a result, FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million), while each player received a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities and a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (RM11,000).
FAM has firmly denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that all documents were obtained and submitted according to official procedures.
The association said it would formally submit an appeal through the designated legal channels and was prepared to present all relevant documents and supporting evidence to FIFA.
It also stressed that certain details pertain to official government processes, including passport issuance and verification, which are protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Passports Act 1966. – October 7, 2025