FIFA bans 7 Malaysian players over fake documents
Published : 22:54, 7 October 2025
World football’s governing body has accused the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) of using forged or falsified documents to make seven foreign-born players eligible for the national team, handing the federation a heavy fine and imposing year-long bans on the footballers.
In written grounds published this week, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee said the paperwork submitted to prove Malaysian ancestry, specifically birth certificates for the players’ grandparents, had been doctored, calling the conduct “a form of cheating.”
FIFA fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs and suspended each of the seven players for 12 months in addition to 2,000-franc fines.
The case stems from June 10, 2025, when all seven featured in Malaysia’s 4–0 win over Vietnam in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier; FIFA received a formal eligibility complaint the following day. The matter of the players’ eligibility has been referred to the FIFA Football Tribunal, while disciplinary sanctions take immediate effect.
FAM said it will lodge an appeal, insisting the players acted in good faith and that the federation followed established procedures.
Malaysia’s youth and sports minister urged a clear response to FIFA’s findings as the controversy threatens the national side’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign. Several fixtures may be affected by the suspensions, and regional authorities are reviewing potential competitive consequences.
The seven sanctioned players are named in FIFA’s ruling as Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
According to FIFA’s report, original records obtained during the probe indicated the grandparents in question were born in the same countries as the players, not in Malaysia, contradicting documents filed in the eligibility process.
Malaysia’s coaching staff must now reshape the squad for the upcoming qualifiers, with analysts warning the fallout could derail the momentum gained since the naturalized players’ debuts. FAM maintains it will use all available legal avenues to contest the decision and protect the interests of Malaysian football.
Sources: FIFA, Reuters, ESPN.
BD/AN
