KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian football has recorded 33 cases of player registration bans imposed by FIFA against 11 clubs, placing the country at the top of the list in South-east Asia for such sanctions.
Scoop’s check on FIFA’s official website found that Kelantan Red Warrior (KRW) FC, newcomers to the Super League this season, accounted for the highest number of cases involving Malaysian clubs, with nine bans.
However, the situation is particularly troubling for KRW FC as the sanctions are reportedly linked to outstanding salary claims against another club, Kelantan FC, rather than wrongdoing by the newly promoted side itself.
The claims stem from allegations that KRW FC and Kelantan FC share the same entity, despite the latter no longer competing in the Malaysian League (Liga M).
The registration bans have dealt a significant blow to KRW FC’s efforts to strengthen their squad, with the club languishing at the bottom of the Super League standings without a single point after six matches.
Former Super League side Kedah Darul Aman (KDA) FC recorded the second-highest number of cases among Malaysian clubs, with six, followed by Kelantan The Real Warriors with four.
Kelantan FC and PDRM FC each recorded three cases, while Perlis FA and Gombak FC had two apiece.
Perak FC, Terengganu FC, Kuala Lumpur (KL) City and PT Athletic FC each had one case listed against them.
KL City, which had previously been released from FIFA’s registration ban list, has reappeared following the activation of a new case on Oct 15 involving former import Patrick Reichelt.
KL City chairman Syed Yazid Syed Omar was reported to have said that the claim concerned interest arising from delayed salary payments to the former player in 2024.
Despite Malaysia’s position at the top of the regional list, the country is not among those with the highest number of FIFA registration bans globally.
Indonesia ranks second in South-east Asia, with 21 cases involving clubs from the country, followed by Thailand with nine, the Philippines with six, Vietnam with two and Myanmar with one.
Worldwide, FIFA’s list contains approximately 1,250 player registration ban cases, with Turkish clubs accounting for the largest share among the countries listed, at 228.
Libya follows with 143 cases, while Greece has 58, China 47, Romania 45 and Bolivia 39.
Several countries with established footballing reputations also feature on the list, including Brazil with 21 cases, Argentina with 17, Portugal with 16, Belgium with nine, Italy with eight, Spain with five and France with four.
Malaysian clubs under FIFA player registration bans:
- Perlis FA – 2 cases
- Kelantan FC – 3 cases
- Gombak FC – 2 cases
- Kedah Darul Aman FC – 6 cases
- Perak FC – 1 case
- Kelantan Red Warrior FC – 9 cases
- Kelantan The Real Warriors – 4 cases
- PDRM FC – 3 cases
- PT Athletic FC – 1 case
- Terengganu FC – 1 case
- Kuala Lumpur City – 1 case – October 27, 2026