PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has started its appeal work on the decision made by Fifa to sanction them and suspend seven players for doctored documentation.
It is understood that the body’s honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, who is also the Fifa Council member, leaves for Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday (Sept 28) for the process.
On Friday (Sept 26), Fifa sanctioned FAM for allegedly doctoring documents to classify seven players as Malaysians.
Fifa alleged that FAM had submitted falsified documents during the eligibility process, allowing the following players to participate in Malaysia’s Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10, 2025: Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Figueiredo, Irazábal, and Hevel.
The players were each fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,570), while FAM was handed a 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.85mil) penalty.
The players were also handed a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities.
Clubs like Deportivo Alaves (Garcés), America de Cali (Holgado), Unionistas de Salamanca (Palmero) and Velez Sarsfield (Machuca) have confirmed their players will be barred for the time being until the appeal is announced.
