In a detailed 64-page ruling released on 18/11, the FIFA Appeal Committee (FAC) dismissed all appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven players. The committee upheld the fines and bans previously requested by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee (FDC).
The appellants failed to provide evidence or reasonable arguments against allegations of forging their grandparents' birth certificates to qualify for the Malaysian national team through ancestral lineage. The seven players, originally born abroad, were granted citizenship based on grandparents supposedly born in Malaysia. However, FIFA discovered original birth certificates proving their grandparents were born in Argentina, Brazil, Netherlands, and Spain.
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A Vietnamese fan at Bukit Jalil stadium, Malaysia, after Vietnam lost 0-4 to Malaysia in the second round of Group F of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers on 10/6. Photo: Hai Tu. |
The FAC described the act of forging documents to register players as "undermining football's integrity, eroding public trust, and intolerable under any circumstances." Consequently, the committee proposed three investigations.
First, the FAC deemed the appellants' violations severe, involving criminal conduct (forgery of official documents). The committee recommended that the FIFA General Secretariat notify competent authorities in Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia to initiate appropriate criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Second, the FIFA General Secretariat should immediately investigate FAM's internal operations. This aims to identify individuals responsible for the document forgery, assess the adequacy and effectiveness of FAM's internal governance mechanisms, and determine if additional disciplinary measures are needed for FAM officials.
FIFA specifically named three individuals for scrutiny regarding their roles and responsibilities in the case: FAM Secretary General Datuk Noor Azman Rahman and two FIFA-licensed agents, Nicolas Puppo and Frederico Moraes. Datuk Noor Azman has been suspended by FAM pending an independent investigation in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Puppo (representing Rodrigo Holgado) and Moraes (representing Figueireido) showed more serious violations in assisting the players than the other three agents.
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Argentine-Malaysian striker Rodrigo Holgado playing in Malaysia's 4-0 win against Vietnam in the second round of Group F of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Photo: Hai Tu. |
Commenting on FIFA's move, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Secretary General Datuk Windsor John told Malaysian television channel Astro Arena: "FAM did nothing; no one was fired, no police report was made. Had they done those things, FIFA might not have ordered further investigation. The move shows FAM does not feel remorse for what happened."
The naturalized players participated in two Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches: a 2-0 win against Nepal on 25/3 and a 4-0 win against Vietnam on 10/6. Additionally, they played in three friendly matches: a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde on 29/5, a 2-1 win against Singapore, and a 1-0 win against Palestine in early September.
The Asian Cup qualifiers fall under the AFC's jurisdiction. The three friendly matches, played during FIFA days, are under FIFA's authority. The General Secretariat will launch a separate investigation to assess appropriate sanctions.
After their appeal was rejected, FAM announced it would take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which represents their last hope for overturning or reducing the penalties. They have 21 days from yesterday's detailed ruling to complete the process.
Sports and commercial lawyer Nik Erman Nik Roseli stated that FAM's chances at CAS depend entirely on the grounds for appeal. FAM argued that the document forgery was committed without the players', Secretary General's, or executive board's permission or knowledge. However, the FAC rejected this view.
"This, combined with the lack of evidence refuting the forgery, undermined FAM's position. They did not deny the forgery, only claimed ignorance," Nik Erman told the New Straits Times. "Other reasons, including lack of grounds, no sporting impact, and mitigating factors, are unlikely to succeed at CAS."
| Timeline of events - 19/3: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) sent a request to FIFA to verify Hector Hevel's eligibility, accompanied by a birth certificate stating his paternal grandfather was born in Melaka, Malaysia. - 20/3: FAM submitted another verification request for Gabriel Palmero, with a birth certificate showing his paternal grandmother was born in Melaka, Malaysia. - 24/3: FIFA responded to FAM, stating that based on the received documents, Hector Hevel "appeared eligible" to play for the Malaysian national team. - 6/6: FAM submitted additional documents for five other players: Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, and Jon Irazabal. Each submission included a birth certificate for a grandparent, stating birth in a Malaysian state (Penang, George Town, Johor, or Sarawak). - 6 and 9/6: FIFA sent response letters, confirming that according to the documents provided by FAM, the five other players "appeared eligible." - 10/6: All seven naturalized players participated in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Vietnam at Bukit Jalil stadium. Malaysia won 4-0, with Figueiredo and Holgado scoring. - 11/6: FIFA received an official complaint from a member association, questioning the validity of the players' naturalization documents, particularly the rapid completion and debut. - 22 and 28/8: Following an investigation, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee (FDC) officially opened disciplinary proceedings against FAM and the seven players, after determining that the original birth certificates showed their grandparents were born outside Malaysia, violating Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. - 22/8: FAM President Joehari Ayub resigned, citing health reasons. - 22/9: FAM and the players submitted their official responses, claiming they acted in good faith, based on documents confirmed by Malaysian authorities. - 25/9: FIFA Disciplinary Committee Vice President, Jorge Palacio, issued the final ruling for the case. - 26/9: The decision and penalties were officially sent to FAM and the involved players. - 6/10: FIFA sent a detailed 19-page document, explaining the legal basis, investigation process, and reasons for sanctions, to FAM and relevant parties. - 15/10: Malaysia filed an appeal with the FIFA Appeal Committee (FAC). - 3/11: The FAC announced the appeal results. - 18/11: The FAC released detailed appeal results. FAM announced it would continue its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). |
Hieu Luong
