FIFA rejects appeal, Malaysia risks losing 0-3 to Vietnam.
FIFA rejects appeals from FAM and 7 players; Malaysia risks being handed a 0-3 forfeit loss against Vietnam and Nepal. The final decision rests with the AFC before March 31, 2026.
On the evening of November 3rd, the FIFA Appeals Committee rejected all appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalized players, upholding the disciplinary actions previously issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. This ruling opens up a very high possibility that Malaysia's previous matches against Vietnam and Nepal will be forfeited 0-3 due to the use of ineligible players. The final decision rests with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), expected no later than March 31st, 2026.
FIFA's ruling and its legal basis
After reviewing the files, evidence, and holding a hearing, FIFA concluded that FAM and seven players had violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The violations involved falsifying documents to legitimize their eligibility to play for the Malaysian national team.
7 players were named.
- Gabriel Felipe Arrocha
- Facundo Tomás Garcés
- Rodrigo Julián Holgado
- Imanol Javier Machuca
- João Vítor Brandão Figueiredo
- Jon Irazábal Iraurgui
- Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano
The penalties remain unchanged.
| Stakeholders | Form of handling | Penalty amount |
|---|---|---|
| FAM | Fine | 350,000 CHF |
| 7 players | Fines; suspension from all football activities. | 2,000 CHF per person; 12-month suspension. |
Impact on the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign
Despite their appeal being rejected, the Malaysian team is still allowed to play the remaining matches in the final qualifying round for the 2027 Asian Cup. However, with a very high risk of being handed a 0-3 defeat in the matches against Nepal and Vietnam due to the use of ineligible players, Malaysia has almost no chance of advancing beyond the qualifying round.
According to the plan, Malaysia will complete the remaining two matches: against Nepal in November and away against Vietnam in March 2026.
Next steps and timeline
FAM and the players received the decision on November 3rd. The parties have 10 days to request a detailed copy of the decision and 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Regarding the 0-3 forfeit results in the affected matches, the AFC will review and issue a final ruling after FAM completes the entire legal process, no later than March 31st, 2026, to ensure the teams participating in the 2027 Asian Cup finals are determined.
Significance for Vietnam and Nepal
The forfeit penalties (if approved by the AFC) will only apply to matches where Malaysia has previously used ineligible players, including the matches against Vietnam and Nepal mentioned in the dossier. Malaysia's away match against Vietnam in March 2026 will still take place as scheduled.
