FIFA Cracks Down Hard: 7 Players Suspended Over Shocking Fake Papers Revelation

World football governing body, FIFA, has handed a 12-month suspension to seven Malaysian national team players and fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) 350,000 Swiss francs ($440,000) over the use of forged documents in an Asia Cup qualifier.

The disciplinary committee announced the sanctions on Friday, confirming that FAM falsified documents to field ineligible players during Malaysia’s 4-0 win against Vietnam in June.

FIFA said the decision followed a complaint challenging the eligibility of several players who featured in the match.

Those affected are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano. Each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and banned from all football-related activities for one year.

In response, FAM announced plans to contest the ruling, insisting both the association and the players acted in good faith.

“FAM would like to emphasise that the players involved, and FAM itself, have acted in good faith and with full transparency throughout this process,” the body stated in Kuala Lumpur.

It further argued that FIFA had previously verified the players’ eligibility, noting: “FIFA has reviewed the qualifications of the players and provided official confirmation that they were eligible to represent Malaysia.”

Malaysia currently lead their 2027 Asia Cup qualifying group with six points from two matches, though the latest sanctions could alter their campaign if upheld.