The FIFA Appeals Committee has upheld the sanctions imposed on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven national team players involved in an alleged eligibility forgery scandal, marking a major setback for Malaysian football.
In a statement released on Thursday, FIFA confirmed it had dismissed appeals lodged by the FAM and the players, maintaining both the one-year suspensions handed to the seven footballers and the $440,000 fine against the federation.
The ruling follows findings that forged ancestry documents were submitted to falsely claim the players’ Malaysian heritage during the 2026 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
The investigation revealed that none of the affected players, Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Brandao Figueiredo had any verifiable parental or grandparental ties to Malaysia. Despite this, all seven featured in Malaysia’s 4–0 victory over Vietnam in June, prompting FIFA’s probe.
While the FAM has denied intentional wrongdoing, it suspended its secretary-general and pledged to establish an independent committee to further investigate the matter. However, Thursday’s verdict signals FIFA’s firm stance on document falsification and player eligibility violations, reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy on integrity breaches in international football.
The decision leaves Malaysia facing a period of uncertainty, both on and off the pitch as the federation works to rebuild credibility and chart a compliant path forward ahead of upcoming regional competitions.
