FIFA rejects appeal, upholds penalty against Malaysia.
FIFA rejected FAM's appeal and the seven players: FAM was fined 350,000 CHF; each player was fined 2,000 CHF and banned for 12 months. They have 10 days to submit their explanation and 21 days to appeal to the CAS.
On the evening of November 3rd, the FIFA Appeals Committee officially rejected all appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the seven players involved, upholding the penalties imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee after determining violations of Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code concerning the falsification and manipulation of player records.
Specifically, FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately 9.1 billion VND). Each player involved was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (approximately 52 million VND) and banned from all football activities for 12 months, including matches, training, and attending official events organized by FIFA, AFC, or member federations.
Those 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
The sentence remains unchanged: the fine and a 12-month suspension.
| Object | Measure |
|---|---|
| FAM | A fine of 350,000 Swiss francs. |
| The 7 players mentioned above | A fine of 2,000 Swiss francs per person; a 12-month ban from all football activities. |
The decision was made after a review of the case file and a formal hearing. The rejection of all appeals means the sentences remain in place.
Next steps: from the justification to CAS
According to FIFA's announcement, FAM and the players received the decision today. They have 10 days to request a detailed explanation. After that, the deadline to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is 21 days if they continue to appeal.
Context and message from FIFA
The incident is considered one of the biggest scandals in Malaysian football recently, raising concerns about the management of naturalized players and the international licensing process. Many sources suggest that the players in question used fraudulent documents when registering to play, leading FIFA to launch an investigation starting in mid-2024.
This ruling is a major blow to FAM and a stern warning from FIFA to federations regarding transparency in player transfers and management. With Malaysian football striving to restore its image after controversies surrounding naturalization and rule violations, the financial penalty and suspension could directly impact FAM's development plans for 2025.
Immediate professional impact and risks
The 12-month ban on competing, training, and participating in official events forces all parties involved to make significant adjustments to personnel and competition schedules. Malaysia now risks forfeiting their place in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, or even being eliminated from the tournament altogether.
From a governance perspective, the ruling underscores the need for strict adherence to regulations regarding player profiles and eligibility at the international level. For FAM, the challenge lies in closing management loopholes, standardizing the profile review process, and restoring trust after the incident.