Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski says he is unfazed by the controversy surrounding seven Malaysian naturalised players who have been suspended by Fifa.
The team are preparing for their 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal on Nov 18, and Cklamovski said he wants to focus on what he and his players can control, rather than be distracted by speculation and criticism.
Malaysia are unbeaten in the qualifiers and top Group F with 12 points from four games, followed by Vietnam (nine), Laos (three) and Nepal (zero). Malaysia conclude their campaign against Vietnam in Hanoi next March.
“For me, it’s simple. It’s not a problem because all I focus on is what I can control – getting today right, and getting every day right,” Cklamovski said in a Bernama report.
“What people say or think is out of my control. I just hope I can make Malaysia proud through the way we play, our football identity, our results, by finishing the year undefeated, playing good football, scoring goals, and keeping clean sheets.
“I’m inspired to work every day with the players we have. There’s a special energy in the group – disciplined, focused and professional.
“We can’t take anything for granted. We need to work hard, stay humble, and continue building our football because we have a tough opponent on Tuesday night.”
In September, Fifa penalised FAM and seven naturalised Malaysian footballers after determining that falsified documents had been submitted to confirm the players’ eligibility for Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
The world football body found that documents had been falsified to claim that each player had a grandparent born in Malaysia, although Fifa said they were actually born in Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
The players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garcés, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,560) and banned for 12 months from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification.
Fifa has dismissed FAM’s appeal and upheld the sanctions, which may result in docked points for Malaysia in their 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
FAM has since said it may take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
