🔗 Share this article

The Malaysian Football Association (FAM) has announced it will appeal FIFA's decision to sanction the body for allegedly falsifying the citizenship documents of multiple overseas-born players, who have now been suspended from playing for the national team for one year.

The Global Football Body's Claims and Penalties

In September, FIFA levied a fine of $438,000 on the Malaysian association and suspended the footballers after discovering that their ancestors were not Malaysian by birth as stated, but rather in Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands and the Iberian nation. The international football governing body reiterated its claims about doctored documentation in a official investigation report published on Monday.

Each of the individuals – who all participated in Malaysia's 4-0 victory over the Vietnamese team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier this June – was also penalized $2,500.

The accused group includes born in Spain Arrocha, Garces and Iraurgui, born in Argentina Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca, as well as Serrano who was originated in the Netherlands, and Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo who was born Brazil.

FIFA's Position on Forgery

"Document falsification constitutes, pure and simple, a form of dishonesty," said FIFA in its report.

"The act of forgery strikes at the very core of the fundamental principles of the sport, not only those governing a athlete's qualification to play for a national team, but also the core ethics of a fair game and the concept of fair play," added a senior official, vice-chair of FIFA's disciplinary committee.

FAM's Reply and Challenge Strategy

FIFA's document states that FAM admitted it "was contacted by third parties regarding the athletes' ancestry and did not attempt to personally confirm the validity of the papers."

"Initial documentation showed a stark difference to the submitted papers," it said.

FIFA also said it was "managed to acquire the authentic papers without hindrance," which revealed a "failure in due diligence" by FAM.

The Football Association of Malaysia responded to FIFA's report in a statement on the following day, maintaining the discrepancies were the outcome of an "administrative error" and the players are "rightful citizens of Malaysia."

"Claims that players 'acquired or were aware of fake documents' are baseless as no solid evidence has been presented so far," the announcement declared.

The association will submit an official appeal of FIFA's ruling, using original documents that have been certified by the Malaysian government.

Regional Context and Official Responses

Southeast Asian countries have lately engaged in hiring campaigns for foreign-born athletes, inspired by Indonesia's strategy of bringing in Dutch-born players from the Indonesian diaspora.

The country's minister for sports, the official, said in a release that "FAM needs to finish the appeal process and that they should not stay quiet but must respond clearly to all revelations made by the global authority."

"Supporters are angry, disappointed and let down," she remarked.

Current Status and Upcoming Games

Regardless of uncertainty regarding the squad's lineup, Malaysia is now placed one hundred twenty-third in the Asian Football Confederation standings and is scheduled to play in Asian Cup qualifiers this month, facing the Laotian team on the upcoming Thursday.