FIFA Sanctions See Malaysia’s Ranking Plummet to 121st

KUALA LUMPUR, El Sky News – The Malaysian national football team, known as Harimau Malaya, has suffered a significant setback in the latest FIFA world rankings, dropping five spots to 121st position. This decline follows a series of disciplinary rulings by world football’s governing body, FIFA, regarding the eligibility of heritage players.

Eligibility Breach Triggers Points Deduction

The slump, confirmed on December 22, 2025, comes after FIFA nullified Malaysia’s recent results in three international friendlies against Singapore, Palestine, and Cape Verde. Investigations revealed that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had fielded heritage players whose eligibility documents did not meet FIFA’s stringent requirements.

As a result of the ruling:

• The previous wins and draws were overturned to 0-3 technical defeats.
• Malaysia lost 22.52 ranking points, bringing their total down to 1,145.89 points.
• FAM was slapped with a fine of CHF10,000 (approximately RM51,414).

Shift in Regional Standings

Before this sanction, Malaysia held the 116th spot globally. This drop reshuffles the hierarchy within Southeast Asia (ASEAN). While Thailand (96th) and Vietnam (107th) maintain their leads, Malaysia now sits precariously at third in the region, with Indonesia trailing by only one spot at 122nd.

FAM Under Scrutiny

The controversy surrounding the falsification of heritage player documents has prompted a deeper investigation. Authorities and FIFA officials are currently reviewing the association’s recruitment processes. The FAM General Secretary has reportedly been summoned to provide further testimony as the national body seeks to resolve the administrative oversight.