FIFA rejects appeal, Malaysia at risk of losing 0-3 to Vietnam
FIFA rejects appeal of FAM and 7 players; Malaysia risks losing 0-3 to Vietnam and Nepal. Final decision by AFC before March 31, 2026.
On the evening of November 3, the FIFA Appeals Committee rejected all appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalized players, upholding the disciplinary decisions previously issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. This decision opens up a very high possibility that Malaysia's previous matches against Vietnam and Nepal will be awarded a 0-3 loss due to the use of ineligible players. The final decision will be made by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), expected no later than March 31, 2026.
FIFA's ruling and legal basis
After reviewing the records, 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 and forging documents to legitimize their eligibility to play for the Malaysian national team.
7 players 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 | Processing form | Penalty level |
|---|---|---|
| FAM | Fine | 350,000 CHF |
| 7 players | Fine; suspension from all football activities | 2,000 CHF/person; 12-month suspension |
Impact on the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign
Despite the appeal being rejected, the Malaysian team is still allowed to play the remaining matches in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. However, with a very high risk of losing 0-3 in the matches against Nepal and Vietnam due to using ineligible players, Malaysia has almost no chance of qualifying.
According to the plan, Malaysia will complete the remaining two matches: meeting Nepal in November and visiting the Vietnamese team in March 2026.
Next steps and timeline
FAM and the players received the decision on November 3. The parties have 10 days to request a detailed decision and 21 days to continue appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Regarding the 0-3 loss in the affected matches, the AFC will review and make a final decision after FAM completes the entire legal process, no later than March 31, 2026, to ensure the determination of the teams participating in the 2027 Asian Cup finals.
Implications for Vietnam and Nepal
The forfeitures (if approved by the AFC) will only apply to matches where Malaysia has fielded ineligible players in the past, including the matches against Vietnam and Nepal mentioned in the dossier. Malaysia’s away match in Vietnam in March 2026 will still go ahead as scheduled.
