COMMENT | There is nothing to suggest that Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh wants Malaysians to believe the “heritage players” scandal is solely the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) problem. Yet the story is far bigger, and critical questions remain unanswered.

Yes, FAM is at the centre of the scandal, facing the International Federation of Association Football’s (Fifa) 350,000 Swiss franc fine and the suspension of its secretary-general, but framing this as purely FAM’s failure is politically convenient and narrow.

These were not seven unknown players plucked from nowhere. They were selected, promoted, and fielded under the national flag. Their presence and the legitimacy of their documents all fall under national sporting governance, which is undeniably within the oversight of the Youth and Sports Ministry.

A scandal of this magnitude, involving seven foreign players claiming Malaysian grandparents, cannot happen in a vacuum. It reflects multiple institutional failures, spanning FAM, the Home Ministry, the National Registration Department (NRD), and the Youth and Sports Ministry.

While the NRD and Home Ministry handle technical verification, and FAM handles player selection and compliance with Fifa rules, the Youth and Sports Ministry is responsible for...