KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (BN24) — FIFA has accused Malaysia’s football federation of forging citizenship documents to make seven foreign-born players eligible for the national team, calling the move a “form of cheating” in a detailed report released Monday.
The world governing body for football had already suspended the players in September. It fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), but this is the first time it has made public the full findings of its investigation.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee determined that the FAM submitted altered birth certificates falsely showing that the grandparents of the players were born in Malaysian cities such as Penang and Malacca. FIFA’s investigators obtained what they claim are original certificates that place the grandparents’ births in countries including Argentina and Spain, the same nations where the players themselves were born.
According to FIFA, the falsified documents were used to exploit its “grandfather rule,” which permits a player to represent a country if a biological parent or grandparent was born there. The rule is intended to strengthen national ties, not serve as a loophole for naturalization.
“This constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating,” the disciplinary report said.
FAM denied wrongdoing, attributing the discrepancies to “administrative error” and insisting that the players remain “legitimate Malaysian citizens.” The association said it will appeal FIFA’s ruling.
The seven players include Spanish-born Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, and Jon Irazabal Iraurgui; Argentinian-born Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca; Dutch-born Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano; and Brazilian-born Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo.
Malaysia came under scrutiny after a 4-0 win over Vietnam in June, prompting questions about player eligibility. FIFA launched a formal investigation shortly thereafter.
The disciplinary committee fined each player 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately $2,500) and handed them one-year suspensions. The FAM was ordered to pay 350,000 Swiss francs (around $440,000).
The controversy unfolds amid a broader regional trend, with several Southeast Asian nations accelerating recruitment of foreign-born players. Indonesia, in particular, has drawn on talent from its Dutch-Indonesian diaspora in recent years.
Malaysia’s Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh acknowledged the damage to the country’s reputation, saying her office would withhold further comment until the appeal process concludes.
“I also understand that all local football fans are naturally angry, disappointed, and want to see improvements,” Yeoh said at a Tuesday press conference, as reported by the national news agency Bernama.
Malaysia is scheduled to face Laos in an upcoming Asian Cup qualifier this week. The squad will be without the suspended players, marking a significant change to its line-up.
