Malaysia national team head coach's future in doubt following FIFA sanctions

Cklamovski was appointed in January with the clear goal of qualifying for the tournament. However, Malaysian newspaper Scoop reported that the possibility of the Australian coach's departure is "very high."

"What is the need for Cklamovski to stay if he loses his best players?" a source told Scoop. "He's a really good coach, and let's hope and pray that he doesn't leave under these circumstances."

Coach Peter Cklamovski during a training session of the Malaysia national team in October 2025. Photo by Malaysia NT

Despite the speculation, Cklamovski was defiant at a press conference on Monday, insisting his focus remains on the job.

"For me, it's simple. What people say or think is out of my control," Cklamovski said, as quoted by New Straits Times. "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's focus is now on the upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against Nepal on Nov. 18 at Bukit Jalil Stadium. The venue was moved from Nepal at their request due to security concerns.

Cklamovski's disciplined style of play was strengthened by the seven sanctioned naturalized players, who were instrumental in the team's victories over Nepal (2-0) and Vietnam (4-0) in the qualifiers in June.

Those seven players were suspended by FIFA on Sept. 26 for using falsified documents to prove their Malaysian ancestry. FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss franc (US$435,600), and the seven players were each fined 2,000 Swiss franc and banned from football for one year.

Heavier penalties await FAM. If its appeal to CAS fails, Malaysia will face 0-3 forfeit defeats for the matches against Nepal and Vietnam, a decision that would end their Asian Cup qualification hopes and could lead to a bigger international ban.

Cklamovski was the former assistant coach for the Australia national team that won the 2015 Asian Cup under Ange Postecoglou, who has managed Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur, and recently had a brief, unsuccessful spell at Nottingham Forest.