PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven national players have been hit with heavy sanctions by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee for breaching Article 22 of the Disciplinary Code concerning forgery and falsification.
FIFA announced that FAM had submitted doctored documents during eligibility enquiries to field the players: Gabriel Palermo, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel, in Malaysia’s Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on 10 June 2025.
Following an investigation triggered by a complaint regarding the eligibility of several players, the Disciplinary Committee found FAM guilty and ordered the national body to pay a fine of CHF350,000 (RM1,849,812).
The seven players were each fined CHF2,000 (RM10,570) and handed a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities.
FIFA added that the players’ eligibility to represent Malaysia would now be reviewed by their Football Tribunal.
FAM and the players have 10 days to appeal, which could then be published on FIFA’s legal website.
They will appear before the FIFA appeal committee.
