Malaysia FA to Appeal FIFA Sanctions Over Alleged Cheating in Player Eligibility Case

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has announced it will appeal against sanctions imposed by FIFA after being accused by world football’s governing body of falsifying player documentation.

In September, FIFA suspended seven overseas-born players who featured in Malaysia’s 4–0 victory over Vietnam during a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier in June. The players were handed 12-month bans, while FAM was fined $438,000 for allegedly submitting falsified or altered documents.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee report, released on Monday, “the original birth certificates indicated a sharp contrast to the documentation provided,” referring to FAM’s claim that the players were eligible through grandparents born in Malaysia. The committee stated that the genuine certificates revealed those family members were actually born in the same countries as the players themselves — namely Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain.

“Presenting fraudulent documentation with the purpose of gaining eligibility to play for a national team constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating which cannot in any way be condoned,” the report read. “Such conduct erodes trust in the fairness of competitions and jeopardises the very essence of football as an activity founded on honesty and transparency.”

In a statement released on Facebook, FAM rejected FIFA’s findings, insisting that the claims were “baseless” and unsupported by concrete evidence.

“Claims that players ‘acquired or were aware of fake documents’ are baseless as no solid evidence has been presented so far,” the statement said. “FAM would like to assert that the heritage players involved are legitimate Malaysian citizens.”

The association attributed the controversy to an administrative error during the submission process and confirmed that it would appeal the ruling using original documents certified by the Malaysian government.

“FAM will be presenting an official appeal regarding this conclusion and remains committed to defending the integrity of national football based on facts and authentic documents,” it added.

FIFA’s report further stated that FAM admitted being contacted by external agencies regarding the players’ heritage but “failed to independently verify the authenticity of the documentation.” It also noted that FIFA “was able to obtain the relevant original documents without hindrance,” highlighting what it described as a “lack of proper diligence” on the part of FAM.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which oversees the Asian Cup, has said it will refer the outcome of the case to its own Disciplinary Committee. This could result in further penalties for Malaysia, who are scheduled to face Laos on Thursday.

The revelations have sparked widespread anger in Malaysia. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh expressed disappointment over the controversy, describing it as damaging to the nation’s reputation.

“Although FAM has issued a statement saying it was a technical error, a mistake by their staff, all of that needs improvement because the 19-page statement contains very serious remarks by FIFA, which tarnish the country’s image,” Yeoh said. “Fans are angry, hurt, and disappointed.”