KUALA LUMPUR – After dropping a bombshell on September 26 by suspending seven players and fining the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), FIFA has now released the full reasoning behind its decision confirming that discrepancies were found in the official documents submitted during the players’ registration process.
In a 19-page report titled “Notification of the Grounds of the Decision” dated October 6, 2025, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee said the sanctions were imposed under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which deals with the falsification or alteration of official documents.
According to the report, several supporting papers submitted by FAM, including copies of grandparents’ birth certificates contained information that did not match original civil records in the players’ actual countries of birth.
Checks with national registries in Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands revealed that none of the named family members were born in Malaysia, contradicting claims made in the documents provided to FIFA.
According to the official decision, FIFA compared the birthplaces listed in the documents submitted by FAM with the original records obtained by its Secretariat and found that the grandmother of Gabriel Arrocha was born in Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain; Facundo Garcés’s grandfather in Santa Fe de la Cruz, Argentina; Rodrigo Holgado’s grandfather in Buenos Aires; and Imanol Machuca’s grandmother in Roldán. Meanwhile, João Figueiredo’s grandfather was from Abre Campo, Brazil; Jon Irazabal’s from Vizcaya, Spain; and Héctor Hevel Serrano’s from The Hague, Netherlands.
FIFA said the authenticity of these records had been confirmed through cross-checks with official authorities in the respective countries and that “no verified evidence was found linking the players’ ancestry to Malaysia.”
The committee also noted that Malaysia’s National Registration Department (NRD) had issued some of the disputed documents “based on secondary information submitted to them, rather than original birth records,” which further contributed to the inconsistencies.
While FAM and the players maintained that all documents were obtained through legal and proper channels, FIFA emphasised that, under the principle of strict liability, the association remains accountable for any inaccuracy or falsification submitted under its name, regardless of intent.
The seven players had represented Malaysia in official international fixtures, including the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10, where two of them found the net.
Following the investigation, FIFA fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.85 million) and issued a 12-month suspension to each player from all football-related activities. Each player was also fined 2,000 Swiss francs.
In the same report, FIFA clarified that FAM has three days from receipt of the decision to file a notice of appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee, and five days thereafter to submit the full appeal brief. The association must also settle the fine within 30 days.
Shortly after receiving the full judgment, FAM issued a statement confirming that it will appeal through the proper legal channels.
“FAM will submit an official appeal through the prescribed procedures,” it said.
“All documents and supporting evidence are complete and will be presented to FIFA without delay.”
The association expressed deep concern over FIFA’s findings, particularly the suggestion that the players had “obtained forged documents” or intentionally sought to circumvent eligibility rules.
“FAM stresses that no evidence has been presented by FIFA to support this claim,” the statement continued.
“All documentation and player registrations were prepared and verified by FAM in accordance with established procedures.”
FAM described FIFA’s depiction of the case as “inaccurate and unfair” and vowed to raise the matter comprehensively during the appeal. It added that the players acted in good faith and relied entirely on the national body’s verification process.
The national body also reminded that the case involves sensitive official records connected to the Malaysian government’s passport and registration procedures, which fall under the Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Passport Act 1966. Therefore, FAM said it is “legally bound to maintain confidentiality” and will share information only with FIFA for the purposes of this case.
“FAM remains committed to defending the interests of Malaysian football, protecting the players’ rights, and ensuring that the process is transparent and in full compliance with regulations,” the statement concluded.
The appeal will now determine whether FIFA’s sanctions against FAM and the seven “heritage players” — once seen as a cornerstone of Malaysia’s World Cup qualifying ambitions can be overturned or reduced in the coming weeks. – October 7, 2025