Faisal Halim. - FAM
PETALING JAYA: National winger Faisal Halim has vowed that the national squad will stay united to bring glory for Malaysia despite the turmoil surrounding the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) following FIFA’s sanctions.
The 27-year-old said the players are determined to stay focused ahead of their match against Laos in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Oct 13 (Tuesday).
"Look, the matter is outside of our control," said Faisal.
"We are players and our duty is on the field. As players, what I can say is we will fight for our badge and do our best again against Laos."
Faisal's journey has been extraordinary since returning from his acid-attack incident last year.
The Selangor star was one of the scorers in Malaysia's 3-0 win against Laos last week.
Faisal, who marked his return to scoring for Malaysia after a 623-day goal drought, expressed his joy and gratitude for the chance to perform again at the highest level.
"After almost two years without scoring for the national team, I’m back, and I’m very happy," said Faisal.
"The coach allowed me to prove that I can do it, and I worked hard to achieve my target.
"I’m grateful to my teammates for their support and motivation. This is not the end - it’s a new beginning for me with the national team."
Last week, FIFA disciplinary committee ruled that FAM had submitted forged documents to register seven mixed-heritage players for international duty.
FIFA’s investigation uncovered discrepancies between the original birth certificates and those submitted to justify the players’ eligibility to represent Malaysia.
The players involved were Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Figueiredo.
FAM and the players were found guilty of breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which covers falsification and the use of forged documents in official proceedings.
FAM were fined 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million), while each player received a 12-month suspension and a 2,000 Swiss franc (RM11,000) fine.
