KUALA LUMPUR — FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has ruled that Malaysia forfeited three international friendly matches by 3-0 scorelines after the national team fielded ineligible players, converting a 1-1 draw with 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, into defeats. The decision, stemming from a committee meeting on December 12, 2025, also imposes an additional fine of CHF 10,000 (approximately $12,500) on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), citing a breach of Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (2025 edition), which addresses the fielding of ineligible players.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed the sanctions in a statement on December 17, 2025, marking the latest escalation in a document forgery scandal involving seven naturalized players. These players—Gabriel Felipe Arrocha (Palmero), Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano—were previously suspended for 12 months and fined individually in September 2025 after FIFA determined falsified documents were submitted to establish their Malaysian ancestry and eligibility.
The earlier sanctions included a CHF 350,000 fine (around $440,000) on FAM. FIFA's Appeal Committee rejected FAM's challenge in November 2025, upholding the penalties and prompting FAM to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The federation has maintained that the issue stemmed from an "administrative error" where incorrect documents were uploaded, insisting the players are legitimate citizens and unaware of any falsification.
FAM stated it would request written grounds for the latest decision before determining next steps. "FAM will make a written application to obtain the reasons for the decision from the FIFA disciplinary committee before considering the next steps to be taken in this matter," the association said.
The scandal originated from a complaint—sources vary on the complainant, with some pointing to Vietnam following a 4-0 Malaysian win in a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier on June 10, 2025, where ineligible players featured and scored. If sanctions extend to that match, Malaysia could face further forfeits under Asian Football Confederation rules.
The controversy has triggered significant backlash in Malaysia, with fans, lawmakers, and commentators demanding accountability from FAM and government agencies involved in citizenship grants. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged transparency in domestic investigations. Last month, FAM suspended its secretary-general and established an independent committee to probe the "technical error."
FIFA has notified authorities in Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands of potential criminal offenses related to forgery, as the players hail from those countries.
The sanctions represent a severe blow to Malaysian football, already grappling with the loss of key players amid an aggressive naturalization program initiated to boost the national team's performance. Malaysia had been rising in rankings but now faces reputational damage and potential impacts on future competitions.
As the case heads potentially to CAS, the incident underscores FIFA's stringent enforcement of eligibility rules to prevent abuse of naturalization processes. Similar cases, like Equatorial Guinea's sanctions over Emilio Nsue, highlight growing scrutiny on heritage claims.
Malaysian football stakeholders call for reforms to restore integrity, while the national team adapts to playing without the suspended players in upcoming fixtures.
