KUALA LUMPUR – FIFPRO has criticised the FIFA Appeal Committee’s decision to impose a 12-month ban on seven players seeking eligibility to represent Malaysia, calling the punishment “grossly disproportionate” and fundamentally unjust.
In a statement, the global players’ union said the footballers were effectively being punished for circumstances entirely beyond their control.
“The sanctions imposed on them, which is a 12-month ban from all football-related activities are grossly disproportionate given the particular circumstances of the case,” the statement read.
FIFPRO noted that the decision itself confirmed the players had not forged any documents in their applications. Instead, FIFA acknowledged that all documents submitted by the players were authentic.
The union argued that the identical situation faced by all seven individuals pointed to systemic issues, not misconduct.
“When not fewer than seven players find themselves in the exact same situation, it is evident that any possible forged documents were not the result of individual actions,” it said.
According to FIFPRO, players have no formal mechanism to independently obtain binding eligibility confirmation from FIFA, nor are they required to under current rules. This made it especially troubling, the union said, that they were now being held accountable for documents handled and submitted by external institutions.
The seven players followed the required process: submitting their personal documents, appearing before Malaysian authorities, taking oaths, receiving government-issued passports, and awaiting eligibility clearance from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). Every procedural step, FIFPRO stressed, involved agencies or bodies outside their control.
“They now face suspension from their clubs and the serious consequences that follow, through no fault of their own,” the union added.
FIFPRO said it stands fully behind the affected players and is confident that their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will correct what it describes as a clear miscarriage of justice.
“FIFPRO expresses its full support for the players and trusts that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will overturn this injustice.”
The case now moves to CAS, where the final outcome could have implications for eligibility procedures across world football.
In September, FIFA announced that the FAM had submitted falsified documents during the verification process for player eligibility in official matches.
The players involved featured in Malaysia’s Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.85 million). Each player received a 12-month ban from football-related activities and a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,560).
On November 3, the FIFA Appeal Committee upheld the penalty imposed by the world governing body’s Disciplinary Committee on FAM and the seven heritage players for falsifying documents under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. – December 2, 2025