Malaysia to Appeal FIFA Sanctions Over Player Eligibility Cheating Allegations
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has announced plans to appeal sanctions imposed by FIFA after being accused of falsifying player documentation to gain eligibility for international matches.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee recently suspended seven overseas-born players for one year and fined FAM $438,000, citing “falsified or doctored documentation” related to their participation in Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier.
In its detailed report, FIFA stated that original birth certificates for the players’ family members contradicted documents submitted by FAM, which had claimed the individuals had Malaysian heritage through a grandparent. The original records, however, showed that the family members were born in the same countries as the players — including Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The committee described the actions as “a form of cheating,” stressing that presenting fraudulent documents undermines the integrity and transparency of global football competitions.
FAM rejected the accusations, calling them baseless and asserting that the players involved are legitimate Malaysian citizens. The association attributed the discrepancies to an administrative error and said it would submit certified documents from the Malaysian government as part of its appeal.
FIFA’s report also indicated that FAM had been alerted by external agencies to potential irregularities but failed to verify the authenticity of the documents. The governing body added that it easily obtained the original records, revealing what it called a lack of diligence by FAM.
Malaysia’s Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh, criticised the situation, describing the 19-page FIFA report as damaging to the country’s reputation. She urged the football body to implement reforms and ensure stricter internal controls.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which oversees the Asian Cup qualifiers, said it would review FIFA’s findings and could impose further disciplinary action. Malaysia is set to face Laos in its next qualifier on Thursday amid growing public outrage over the scandal.
Comments
This post currently has no comments.