Malaysia’s national football team is facing one of its toughest moments in recent years. The team’s head coach, Peter Cklamovski, is reportedly at risk of losing his job after FIFA imposed serious sanctions against seven of the team’s naturalised players. These players were found guilty of using falsified documents to prove Malaysian ancestry, leading to a one-year ban for each of them.
FIFA also fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) 350,000 Swiss francs (around US$435,600). Each of the seven players was fined 2,000 Swiss francs as well. The punishment has come as a huge blow to the national team, which had shown strong performances in the ongoing 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Malaysia had defeated Nepal 2-0 and Vietnam 4-0 in June, results that boosted hopes for qualification. However, with the sanctions now in place, those wins are under threat. If FAM’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) fails, both matches may be recorded as 0-3 defeats for Malaysia. This would severely damage the team’s qualification campaign and may even lead to further international penalties.
Head coach’s job in danger
Peter Cklamovski, who was appointed in January, was brought in with the clear mission of qualifying Malaysia for the 2027 Asian Cup. Known for his strict and disciplined coaching style, he quickly became respected among players and fans. His focus on structured play and teamwork had started to deliver results before the sanctions hit.
However, Malaysian media reports suggest that his future with the national team is now uncertain. The chances of Cklamovski leaving his position are “very high.” The report quoted a source saying, “What is the need for Cklamovski to stay if he loses his best players?”
The source also praised the coach’s skills and dedication, saying it would be unfortunate if he had to leave under such circumstances. Without the seven banned players, the team loses key members who were crucial to its success in recent matches. Their absence could make it difficult for Cklamovski to maintain the team’s competitive edge.
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Cklamovski remains focused amid uncertainty
Despite growing speculation about his future, Cklamovski has remained calm and focused. At a press conference on Monday, he made it clear that his attention remains on his duties as coach.
“For me, it’s simple. What people say or think is out of my control,” he told reporters. “My focus is to get today right, to get every day right. I hope to make Malaysian football proud with the way we play and by finishing the 2025 international year undefeated.”
The coach now turns his focus to the upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal, which will take place on November 18 at Bukit Jalil Stadium. The match was originally scheduled to be held in Nepal but was moved to Malaysia due to security concerns raised by the hosts.
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Heavy penalties threaten Malaysia’s qualification hopes
The FIFA sanctions have placed Malaysia’s entire qualifying campaign at serious risk. If CAS upholds FIFA’s decision, the national team could lose both victories recorded against Nepal and Vietnam. That would effectively end their chances of reaching the 2027 Asian Cup.
The Football Association of Malaysia has appealed against the decision, hoping to reduce the penalties or clear the players’ names. However, experts believe the appeal process could take months, and until then, the uncertainty will continue to affect the national team.
Peter Cklamovski’s position now depends largely on how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks. While he continues to focus on the job at hand, the loss of seven key players and the threat of disqualification have left the team and fans deeply concerned.