KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will open an investigation into allegations of falsified documents involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven national players, following FIFA’s disciplinary ruling this week.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said he had instructed investigators to reach out to FIFA to clarify the matter.
“I will send my officers as soon as possible to meet or communicate with FIFA to understand what the issue really is. If we find that any criminal offence within our jurisdiction has been committed, MACC will carry out an investigation,” Azam told TV3.
He confirmed the commission had not received an official complaint, but said the case was now a matter of public interest.
“We only learnt about this through FIFA’s media statement. Since it is in the public domain, MACC does not need to wait for a formal report to act,” he added.
FIFA announced yesterday that FAM and seven heritage players had been sanctioned by its disciplinary committee for breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which covers document falsification.
The global football body said FAM had submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility, allowing them to feature in Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. The match triggered an official complaint over player eligibility.
The seven players named are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
FIFA fined FAM CHF350,000 (about RM1.8 million), while each player was fined CHF2,000 (about RM10,560) and handed a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities, effective from the date of notification of the decision.
FIFA also referred the issue of the players’ eligibility to represent Malaysia to its Football Tribunal for further deliberation.
FAM, however, has confirmed it will appeal the decision, stressing that both the association and the players had acted transparently and in good faith.
Acting president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said all procedures had followed FIFA’s guidelines, and that the governing body itself had previously reviewed and approved the players’ eligibility.
He reiterated FAM’s commitment to upholding international regulations while defending the integrity of Malaysian football, promising that further updates on the appeal process would be shared in due course. — September 27, 2025