“This is the first time FAM has faced such a situation.”
FIFA has dismissed appeals filed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven national team players over a forgery scandal involving falsified ancestry documents, according to Daily Mirror reporting.
The world football governing body had in September fined FAM $440,000 and banned the seven foreign-born players for one year after determining that Malaysia submitted doctored papers to prove their eligibility for an Asian Cup qualifier. FIFA’s investigation found that Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Brandao Figueiredo did not have any Malaysian parent or grandparent, despite featuring in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam in June.
FAM denied deliberate wrongdoing and lodged an appeal last month, also suspending its secretary-general while forming an independent inquiry committee. However, FIFA’s appeal committee said “after analysing the submissions and conducting a hearing,” it had “decided to dismiss the appeals” and “to confirm” the sanctions.
The ruling requires FAM to pay the fine, while each player will pay $2,500 and remain banned for 12 months. Acting FAM president Yusoff Mahadi said the federation plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “This is the first time FAM has faced such a situation,” he said.