The world football governing body, FIFA, has imposed a 12-month suspension on seven players of Malaysia’s national team and fined the country’s football association 350,000 Swiss francs ($440,000) for fielding ineligible players with falsified documents.
The decision was announced by FIFA’s disciplinary committee on Friday, following an investigation into Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in a 2027 Asia Cup qualifier played in June.
Players Sanctioned
The suspended players are:
- Gabriel Felipe Arrocha
- Facundo Tomas Garces
- Rodrigo Julian Holgado
- Imanol Javier Machuca
- Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo
- Jon Irazabal Iraurgui
- Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano
Each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs in addition to the one-year ban from all football-related activities.
FIFA’s Findings
According to FIFA, the punishment followed a complaint challenging the eligibility of several players who featured in the qualifier. The investigation confirmed that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had submitted forged documentation to clear the players.
FAM’s Reaction
In a statement from Kuala Lumpur, the FAM rejected the ruling and vowed to contest it through legal channels.
“FAM would like to emphasise that the players involved, and FAM itself, have acted in good faith and with full transparency throughout this process,” the association said.
The FAM further argued that FIFA had previously reviewed and approved the players’ eligibility before the match.
What’s Next for Malaysia?
Despite the controversy, Malaysia currently sit at the top of their 2027 Asia Cup qualifying group with six points from two matches. The final group standings, however, could be affected depending on further actions taken by FIFA.
