FIFA Alleges Malaysia Faked Players' Citizenship to Boost National Team
The world governing body of football has suspended seven players from the Malaysian national team over accusations of falsifying citizenship documents...
FIFA Accuses Malaysia of Faking Player Eligibility in Controversial Scandal
• Sports, Politics, FIFA, Malaysia, football, foreign-born players, eligibility, suspension, forged documents, grandfather rule, Football Association of Malaysia, administrative error, naturalised players, Asia, Penang, Malacca, metaworld.media, FIFA Accuses Malaysia of Faking Player Eligibility in Controversial Scandal
In a significant controversy, FIFA has accused Malaysia of falsifying citizenship documents for seven foreign-born players to qualify them for the national football team. The players have been suspended amid claims of 'doctored documentation,' raising questions about the integrity of international football.
FIFA has accused Malaysia of falsifying citizenship documents so seven foreign-born players could play for the national team.
Football's world governing body had fined and suspended the players in late September and on Monday released a report justifying its action.
FIFA stated that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had forged birth certificates to make it appear as though the players' grandparents were born in Malaysia. This, it asserted, 'constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating'.
However, FAM maintained that the discrepancies were due to an 'administrative error' and is set to appeal FIFA's penalties, insisting that the players are 'legitimate Malaysian citizens'.
FIFA's 'grandfather rule' permits foreign-born players to represent countries where their biological parents or grandparents were born, intended to prevent teams from merely importing players to enhance performance.
The controversy was ignited following Malaysia's 4-0 victory against Vietnam in June, leading FIFA to investigate the eligibility of the players.
In September, FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the seven players for a year and fined them 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately $2,500; £1,870). The football governing body ordered FAM to pay 350,000 Swiss francs ($440,000; £330,000) without revealing the specifics behind the suspension, citing issues with 'doctored documentation.'
In previous years, efforts in Southeast Asia have increasingly focused on recruiting naturalized players. Following the trend set by Indonesia, which attracted Dutch-born footballers from their diaspora, Malaysia aimed to enhance their national team's performance.
Earlier this year, FAM submitted birth certificates to FIFA, claiming the players' grandparents were born in Malaysian cities such as Penang and Malacca. However, FIFA's investigation uncovered original birth certificates confirming the grandparents' births in countries like Argentina and Spain, matching the players' origins.
Among the suspended players are Spanish-born Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, and Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, alongside Argentinians Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca, Dutch-born Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano, and Brazilian-born Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo.
Malaysian sports minister Hannah Yeoh remarked that FIFA's findings have tarnished the nation's image, and that the ministry will await FAM's appeal before issuing an official statement. 'I also understand that all local football fans are naturally angry, disappointed, and want to see improvements,' she stated on Tuesday, according to government news agency Bernama.
Malaysia is preparing to face Laos in an upcoming Asian Cup qualifier, albeit without the sanctioned players, significantly altering the team's lineup.