In a stunning turn of events, FIFA has overturned the results of three Malaysian international football fixtures due to the fielding of ineligible players. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision, announced on December 17, 2025, marks a severe blow to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the nation's footballing hopes.
The matches affected are Malaysia's 1-1 draw against Cape Verde on May 29, 2025, a 2-1 victory over Singapore on September 4, 2025, and a 1-0 win against Palestine on September 8, 2025. All three results have been annulled and recorded as 3-0 defeats for Malaysia.
The sanctions stem from an investigation into the eligibility of seven naturalized players: Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Gabriel Palmero, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. FIFA found that FAM violated the FIFA Disciplinary Code by using falsified documents to register these players. Specifically, FAM allegedly altered the players' birth certificates to falsely indicate that their grandparents were born in Malaysia, thus circumventing FIFA's eligibility rules. FIFA's investigation involved obtaining the original birth certificates of the players' grandparents, which revealed that they were born in countries such as Spain, Argentina, and Brazil, the same as the players themselves.
In addition to the forfeited matches, FAM has been fined 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately $440,000 USD). Each of the seven players has also been handed a 12-month ban from all football activities and fined 2,000 Swiss francs. These penalties represent the harshest disciplinary action in Malaysian football history.
The repercussions could extend beyond these three matches. There is a possibility that Malaysia's 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, 2025, could also be overturned, as the ineligible players participated in that game. This would significantly impact the Group F standings and Vietnam's qualification chances.
FAM initially appealed the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's ruling to the FIFA Appeals Committee, but the appeal was rejected. The association has now taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, filing an appeal on December 8, with detailed legal arguments to be submitted on December 18. While CAS has the power to overturn FIFA's ruling, such reversals are rare.
The scandal has triggered widespread anger and frustration in Malaysia. Beyond the mismanagement and potential corruption, the incident has highlighted the perceived double standards surrounding citizenship in Malaysia, where many stateless residents face significant difficulties in obtaining citizenship.
The FAM has stated that the falsification of documents was due to an "administrative error". However, FIFA's thorough investigation and the severity of the sanctions suggest otherwise. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding integrity and adhering to regulations in international football. The coming weeks will be crucial as Malaysia awaits the CAS decision, which will ultimately determine the extent of the damage to the nation's footballing future.
