The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is awaiting a verdict from FIFA's Appeal Committee on sanctions imposed over falsified documents for seven heritage players. The case involves violations that could impact Malaysia's lead in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hopes for a resolution before March 31, 2026, to avoid disruptions to the tournament draw.
Malaysian football is on edge as the FIFA Appeal Committee prepares to rule on FAM's appeal filed on October 15, 2025, regarding a scandal involving seven naturalized heritage players. These players—Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—were part of a strategy to boost the Harimau Malaya national team's competitiveness. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee found FAM guilty of violating Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by submitting falsified documents, including discrepancies in birth certificates, to confirm the players' eligibility for the third-round match against Vietnam on June 10, 2025.
As a result, FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss Francs (approximately RM1.8-1.9 million), while each player received a 2,000 Swiss Franc fine (about RM10,560) and a 12-month suspension from football-related activities, effective from the decision's notification. FAM described the issue as a technical error by an administrative staff member and has not ruled out appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if the FIFA appeal fails.
The AFC, led by secretary general Datuk Seri Windsor John, faces a tight timeline. Malaysia currently tops Group F in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round with a perfect record of 12 points from four wins, including a 4-0 victory over Vietnam. Vietnam follows with 9 points, Laos with 3, and Nepal with 0; only the group winner qualifies for the finals in Saudi Arabia in January 2027. Windsor emphasized that the AFC will initiate its disciplinary review only after FIFA's or CAS's final decision, focusing on eligibility breaches affecting AFC competitions. "We have a time constraint because our draw will take place after the Asian Cup’s qualifying round last match on March 31," he said.
This situation echoes a 2016 case where Timor-Leste's football federation was fined 70,000 Swiss Francs and banned for three years after an appeal over forged documents for 12 Brazilian-born players was rejected. Fans and officials await the verdict, expected as early as October 30, 2025, amid concerns over potential harsher sanctions.