AFC fines FAM, JDT and Selangor; naturalization case awaits CAS.
The AFC announced fines of US$1,875 for delaying the second half of the Malaysia-Laos match; US$5,000 for JDT and US$1,250 for organizational violations. The naturalization case awaits a CAS ruling until March 31, 2026.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on November 20th sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), and Selangor FC for irregularities in organizing continental matches. These decisions are unrelated to the case involving the group of naturalized players in the Malaysian national team, which is awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) with a deadline of March 31, 2026.
- FAM fined $1,875 for allowing the second half of the Malaysia – Laos match (October 14, 2025) to start 2 minutes and 30 seconds late; repeat offense within the framework of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
- JDT fined $5,000 for failing to meet "clean stadium" standards during training before their AFC Champions League Elite match against Machida Zelvia (September 30).
- Selangor FC fined $1,250 for starting the second half 1 minute and 20 seconds late in their Champions League Two match against Persib Bandung (October 23).
Details of penalties and deadlines
According to the announcement, FAM must pay the fine within 30 days of the decision. This is considered a minor operational error, but the fine was increased higher than usual because FAM committed the offense a second time in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
At the club level, JDT was fined $5,000 for failing to meet "clean stadium" standards during their pre-match training session in the AFC Champions League Elite on September 30. Selangor FC was fined $1,250 for starting the second half of their Champions League Two match against Persib Bandung on October 23 1 minute and 20 seconds late. Both clubs have 30 days to fulfill their financial obligations to the AFC.
| The party being penalized | Event/Tournament | Day | Violation | Penalty amount | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAM | Malaysia vs. Laos match (Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers) | 14/10/2025 | Started the second half 2 minutes and 30 seconds late; repeat offense. | $1,875 | 30 days from the date of notification |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | AFC Champions League Elite (before the match against Machida Zelvia) | 30/9 | The "clean stadium" standard was not met during the training session. | 5,000 USD | 30 days |
| Selangor FC | Champions League Two (match against Persib Bandung) | 23/10 | The second half starts slowly by 1 minute and 20 seconds. | 1,250 USD | 30 days |
Naturalization case: awaiting CAS, deadline March 31, 2026
While administrative penalties have been announced, the case regarding Malaysia's alleged misuse of naturalized players remains unresolved. FAM has appealed to CAS, so AFC is awaiting a ruling from that body before making a final decision.
AFC Secretary General Windsor John stated that the deadline for the AFC to make a ruling on the Malaysian national team's naturalization case is March 31, 2026. Unless something changes, Malaysia risks being disqualified from the qualifying round.
The overall picture
These penalties focus on match-related discipline: adherence to the start time of the second half and standards of facilities during pre-match activities. While the financial value is not significant, they stem from specific incidents with documented time and context, and a 30-day deadline for fulfilling the obligation. Simultaneously, the naturalization process is a separate issue and is still in legal proceedings at CAS with a defined timeline.
