FIFA rejects appeal, upholds penalty for Malaysia
FIFA rejects FAM and 7 players' appeal: FAM fined 350,000 CHF; each player 2,000 CHF and banned for 12 months. 10 days to request explanation, 21 days to appeal to CAS.
On the evening of November 3, the FIFA Appeal Committee officially rejected all appeals of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the seven players involved, upholding the penalties imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee after determining that Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code regarding the act of falsifying and cheating on player records was violated.
Specifically, FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about 9.1 billion VND). Each player involved was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about 52 million VND) and banned from participating in all football activities for 12 months, including competitions, training and attending official events organized by FIFA, AFC or member federations.
People named in the case
- Gabriel Felipe Arrocha
- Facundo Tomas Garces
- Rodrigo Julian Holgado
- Imanol Javier Machuca
- Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo
- Jon Irazábal Iraurgui
- Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano
Sentence upheld: fine and 12-month suspension
| Object | Measure |
|---|---|
| FAM | Fine of 350,000 Swiss francs |
| 7 players mentioned above | Fine of 2,000 Swiss francs/person; banned from all football activities for 12 months |
The decision was made after a review of the case and a formal hearing. The dismissal of all appeals means the sentences remain in place.
The next step: from the report to CAS
According to FIFA's announcement, FAM and the players received the decision on the same day. They have 10 days to request a detailed explanation. After that, the deadline for filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is 21 days if they continue to complain.
Background and message from FIFA
The incident is considered one of the biggest scandals in Malaysian football in recent times, raising concerns about the management of naturalized players and the international licensing process. Many sources said that the above players used dishonest documents when registering to play, leading to FIFA opening an investigation from mid-2024.
This verdict is a heavy blow to FAM and also a stern warning from FIFA to federations about transparency in player transfers and management. In the context of Malaysian football trying to restore its image after controversies related to naturalization and violation of regulations, the financial penalty and suspension can directly affect FAM's development plan in 2025.
Professional impact and immediate risks
The 12-month ban on competition, training and official events forces the relevant parties to make drastic adjustments to their personnel and competition plans. Currently, Malaysia is at risk of being disqualified from the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, or even being eliminated from the tournament.
From a governance perspective, the ruling underscores the need for strict adherence to player eligibility and documentation rules at the international level. For FAM, the challenge lies in plugging governance loopholes, standardizing the documentation process, and restoring confidence after the incident.
