Malaysia's Asian Cup dream is shaken after FIFA sanctions

27/09/2025 18:57:00 FieldFrenzy

Malaysia’s dream start in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers is turning into a nightmare after FIFA imposed sanctions on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalized players for alleged document forgery.

Although Malaysia leads Group F with 4 points following a 2-0 victory over Nepal and a surprising 4-0 defeat to Vietnam, the team now faces an uncertain future ahead of two matches against Laos in October.

Malaysia’s dream beginning in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers is turning into a nightmare after FIFA sanctioned FAM and seven national players over allegations of forged documents. Photo: NST

Acting FAM President Datuk Yusoff Mahadi confirmed that the association has formally requested FIFA for detailed explanations and is currently awaiting a decision from FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee.

“We have asked FIFA to provide a comprehensive explanation to fully understand the details of the sanction. The Players’ Status Committee will make the final ruling, after which we will consider the next steps,” he said.

“FAM recognizes the concerns of all parties, especially the fans, and we are taking urgent measures to address this issue.”

The court’s ruling, expected to be announced soon, will decide whether the seven disciplined players are eligible to participate in the crucial matches against Laos.

The seven players—Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Héctor Hevel—played in the match against Vietnam on June 10. This match triggered a complaint to FIFA that led to the investigation.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee concluded that FAM submitted forged documents to validate the eligibility of these players. FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about 1.9 million RM), while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and suspended from all football activities for 12 months.

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