The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced on October 6 that it had fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and suspended seven Malaysian players for 12 months over allegations of falsifying nationality documents.
Image credit: Football Association of Malaysia (Facebook)
Image credit: FIFA
Allegations of fabricated identity documents
FIFA stated that identification certificates linked to the players were fabricated, rendering them ineligible to represent Malaysia at the international level.
According to FIFA’s official statement, the players’ grandparents’ birth certificates were allegedly altered to indicate Malaysian origins instead of foreign birthplaces such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands.
The global football body stressed that its nationality eligibility rules require a player’s parent or grandparent to have been born in, or to have live continuously for at least five years after the age of ten in the country they wish to represent.
The allegations reportedly surfaced following Malaysia’s qualifier match against Vietnam on June 10, after FIFA received a complaint questioning the players’ naturalization timeline and eligibility.
FAM denies wrongdoing, plans to appeal
In response, the FAM has firmly denied any involvement in document falsification, asserting that both the association and the players were unaware of any irregularities. The FAM explained that all identification documents had been verified by Malaysia’s National Registration Department and subsequently submitted to FIFA for review.
The association emphasized that the players’ citizenship status was legitimate, adding that the alleged discrepancies stemmed from an administrative error, specifically a staff member mistakenly uploading a document from an agent instead of an official one issued by the Department of National Registration (JPN).
FAM also criticized FIFA’s handling of the case, claiming that the ruling lacked substantial evidence and failed to consider Malaysia’s validation procedures. The governing body has confirmed that it will formally appeal the decision to defend its integrity and ensure fair treatment of the accused players.
Potential Consequences
If FIFA’s ruling remains in place, Malaysia could face significant consequences, including overturned match results and the loss of qualification points for future tournaments, such as the 2027 Asian Cup. FAM has 30 days to pay the imposed fine of CHF 350,000 (approximately S$567,273), while each player faces an individual fine of CHF 2,000 (S$3,242).
Despite the setback, FAM has pledged to pursue all available legal channels to clear the names of the affected players and protect the reputation of Malaysian football.
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