FIFA suspended seven players from Malaysia’s national team for 12 months and fined the country’s football association 350,000 Swiss francs ($440,000) on Friday due to forged documents used in an Asia Cup qualifier.
The disciplinary committee of world football imposed these penalties after the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) altered documentation to field the players in a 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June, according to a statement.
FIFA took action following a complaint about the eligibility of several players in the match.
Consequently, Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano were each fined 2,000 Swiss
francs and banned from football-related activities for 12 months.
Responding to the suspension, the FAM announced plans to appeal the decision, stating it would “use all available legal channels and procedures to ensure the interests of the players and the Malaysian national team are always protected.”
The association emphasized that the players involved and the FAM acted in good faith and with full transparency throughout the process, asserting that documentation and procedures were managed transparently and in line with FIFA guidelines.
The FAM noted that FIFA had previously reviewed the players’ qualifications and confirmed their eligibility to play for Malaysia.
Malaysia currently leads their 2027 Asia Cup qualifying group with six points from two matches, pending any further FIFA sanctions.
