Seven naturalized players are considering suing FAM after FIFA's 12-month ban.
Seven Malaysian naturalized players have been banned for 12 months by FIFA due to errors in their documentation, FAM acknowledges, and is considering suing for compensation; FAM is appealing to CAS, risking a harsher penalty.
Seven naturalized Malaysian players, currently suspended for 12 months by FIFA for paperwork-related violations, are reportedly planning to sue the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for compensation. This move comes after FAM admitted to a technical error by its administrative department during the application process, leading to the FIFA penalty and a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately 56 million VND) for each player.
Key developments: group of players considering legal action.
According to the New Straits Times, seven players are working with foreign lawyers to assess the possibility of suing FAM to compensate for lost income due to being banned from all football activities for 12 months. Some are said to have lost significant income, and in some cases, even had their contracts terminated by their clubs.
"Their demand for compensation is entirely understandable, given the significant impact this penalty has had on their lives and careers," a source told the New Straits Times.
The root cause of the penalty: a technical error in submitting the application.
The report emphasizes that FAM has acknowledged administrative errors in the documentation, leading to the decision from FIFA. All seven players were fined 2,000 Swiss francs and suspended for 12 months for violating Article 22 of FIFA's Disciplinary Code relating to the use of forged documents.
FAM's reaction: Appealing to CAS after FIFA rejected their appeal.
Earlier this week, FIFA rejected FAM's appeal regarding the eligibility of the aforementioned group of players. FAM is now preparing its case to appeal again to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to overturn the decision.
Risk of consequences: from losing the case to a prolonged ban.
If the CAS rules against them, FAM and the Malaysian national team could face severe penalties. One scenario mentioned is being handed forfeits in two 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches against Nepal and Vietnam, in which naturalized players were present. Furthermore, the "Malaysian Tigers" could face a ban from competing for around two years, or in the most severe cases, up to 10 years.
List of 7 banned players and their penalties.
- Gabriel Palmero
- Facundo Garces
- Rodrigo Holgado
- Imanol Machuca
- Joao Figueiredo
- Jon Irazabal
- Hector Hevel
These players have been banned from all football activities for 12 months and fined 2,000 Swiss francs for violating Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Broader impact: image, selections, and tournament planning.
The incident not only poses a risk to the outcome of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers but also affects the national team's personnel plans. With FIFA having rejected the initial appeal, all eyes are on FAM's pursuit of the case at CAS and the proposed solution for handling the contracts and professional rights of the players involved.
