It has been a year of intense highs and bitter lows in football-mad Malaysia.
The men's national team, which has only qualified for four Asian Cup tournaments in its history, thrashed Vietnam 4-0 in a June qualifier for the region's top international competition.
"2027 Asian Cup, we're coming in style," a fan gushed on social media.
"This is our time," they declared.
Yet days after the victory, the sport's governing body FIFA received a formal complaint about several star players' eligibility to represent Malaysia.
Many of those on the field were so-called "heritage players" — people ostensibly with Malaysian ancestry naturalised as citizens in order to represent the South-East Asian nation.
It soon emerged that five of the players who faced Vietnam had only been granted citizenship the week before kick off.
Another two had become Malaysians in the months prior.
'Cheating … pure and simple'
An investigation by FIFA found the men's grandparents were not born in Malaysia as claimed, but rather Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
The players whose family heritage was in question were Spanish-born Gabriel Palmera and Jon Irazabal; Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado and Imanol Machuca born in Argentina; Brazil-born Joao Figueiredo; and Hector Hevel who was born in the Netherlands.
FIFA alleged the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had "doctored" documents in order to field the players, who it concluded were the "ultimate beneficiaries" and "illegally, and successfully enjoyed the consequences".
All seven players were slapped with a 12-month suspension from football-related activities and individual fines of around $3,800.
FAM was ordered to pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs ($663,000) to FIFA.
Aysha Ridzuan, a sport consultant who previously worked for FAM, said the win against Vietnam was "huge for the fans".
"[But] as fans, we would probably rather lose … than win like this — having players who are not supposed to play for us," she said.
The 63-page report released by FIFA's disciplinary committee was scathing.
"Presenting fraudulent documentation with the purpose of gaining eligibility to play for a national team constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating," it said.
"The act of forgery strikes at the very core of the fundamental principles of football.
"Not only those governing a player's eligibility to represent a national team, but also the essential values of a clean sport and the principle of fair play," FIFA concluded.
FAM suspended its general secretary Noor Azman Rahman but blamed an "administrative error" and maintained the players were "legitimate Malaysian citizens".
Haresh Deol, a prominent football pundit and editor at local news outlet Twentytwo13, said it was "the biggest scandal in the country after 1Malaysia Development Berhad" — referring to the largest corruption case in Malaysian history.
"Many questions, especially those pertaining the so-called forged 'documents', remain unanswered to date," he said.
Union says players are 'victims'
The scandal's consequences for Malaysian football are expected to be painful and long-lasting.
"They'll probably miss out on qualification for the next Asia Cup," said Paul Williams, host of soccer podcast The Asian Game.
"Malaysia could also be banned from qualifying for the 2031 Asian Cup … which would be a huge blow to the football system in Malaysia."
Local news outlets reported last month that the affected players were planning to sue FAM for millions in lost income due to the ban.
FAM will appeal FIFA's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"We feel someone should just come out and say the truth," Ms Ridzuan said.
FIFPRO, the international union for soccer players, this week declared that the 12-month sanctions imposed on the players were "grossly disproportionate".
"All steps were handled by institutions outside their control, yet they now face suspension from their clubs and the serious consequences that follow through no fault of their own," FIFPRO said in a statement.
"It is clear that the players are, in fact, victims in this matter."
Meanwhile, FIFA has lodged criminal complaints in five countries.
"It is imperative that the relevant authorities are informed so that appropriate criminal investigations and proceedings may be pursued," it said.
Malaysian journalist attacked
Deol, who is also deputy president of Malaysia's National Press Club, was last week allegedly assaulted by two men on the street in Kuala Lumpur while another filmed the incident.
Police continue to investigate and have suggested it was a case of mistaken identity.
But Deol told the ABC he believes the attack was intended to intimidate because of his publication of critical journalism about the naturalisation scandal.
"I've been in the industry for 25 years and I can't think of anything else for this attack but for my series of reporting and commentary on sports integrity and governance," he said.
In a forceful column published days before the alleged assault, Deol wrote that the country's football association had "failed" Malaysians.
"The system is compromised. Sport has been reduced to a personal playground," he said.
"The onus is now on Malaysians to speak up. The demand for integrity, accountability, and transparency must continue."
