KUALA LUMPUR – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that the controversy involving seven heritage players who represented Malaysia is now considered closed at its level.
AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John said that the matter is no longer within the Asian body’s jurisdiction, as all disciplinary and investigative processes have been transferred to FIFA and other relevant authorities.
“From the AFC’s perspective, the case is closed,” Windsor said in a press conference at Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)’s extraordinary congress today , adding that any further updates on police investigations or FIFA proceedings must be obtained directly from the respective bodies.
“The case involving the seven players is now under FIFA’s jurisdiction. For police matters, you should refer to the police. For FIFA-related issues, you must speak to FIFA,” he added.
The controversy surrounding the seven players arose following questions over their eligibility and the documentation used for their registration with Malaysia’s national team.
The issue sparked wider scrutiny over compliance procedures and governance standards within FAM.
The matter later formed part of broader governance concerns highlighted in the AFC Quality Audit Assessment Programme, which examined structural and administrative weaknesses within FAM.
However, AFC officials clarified during an audit briefing that the review was not intended to revisit closed disciplinary cases, but rather to assess systemic governance gaps and recommend long-term institutional reforms.
Windsor had previously stated that while governance issues were being reviewed under the audit framework, any ongoing disciplinary cases, including the seven-player issue that fall outside the AFC’s remit once escalated to FIFA.
The AFC audit, which is part of a multi-year monitoring programme, has placed Malaysian football under a structured reform pathway involving periodic reporting and compliance assessments.
Meanwhile, former FAM president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin said he would not reopen the matter, instead leaving it to the incoming leadership of the national football body to address any remaining questions.
He said that all related issues, including those involving statutory procedures and administrative processes, should now be handled by the new president and executive committee.
“Ultimately, this is the same question that has been asked before. Let the new president and the new executive committee respond to it,” Hamidin said.
“From my perspective, anything that is already concluded should remain in the past. It is time to move on. What matters now is looking ahead.”
The issue first emerged in September 2025, when Malaysia was rocked by revelations that seven naturalised players were deemed ineligible after featuring for the national team under head coach Peter Cklamovski during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, including a 4-0 win over Vietnam in June 2025.
The players involved are Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Jon Irazabal, João Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero and Héctor Hevel.
All seven are currently serving 12-month suspensions. – June 4, 2026