FIFA Sanctions Malaysia Over Fake Documents for Naturalized Players, FAM Files Appeal

KUALA LUMPUR, FRIDAY – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been found to have used false documents in the process of naturalizing seven players. In an official statement from FIFA's Judicial Body, Friday (26/9/2025) evening WIB, they were found to have violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code regarding document forgery and false statements.

The seven players are Gabriel Palmero (left wing-back/Unionistas, Spain League), Facundo Tomas Garces (center-back/Alaves, Spain League), Rodrigo Julian Holgado (forward/America de Cali, Colombia League), Imanol Javier Machuca (wing forward/Velez Sarsfield, Argentina League), Joao Figueiredo (forward/JDT, Malaysia League), Jon Irazabal (center-back/JDT, Malaysia League), and Hector Alejandro Hevel (midfielder/JDT, Malaysia League).

An investigation was conducted by FIFA after they played a qualifying match for the 2027 Asian Cup against Vietnam on June 10, 2025, at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The match was won by Malaysia with a score of 4-0.

In the match against Vietnam, the seven players made their debut wearing the "Harimau Malaya" jersey. Figueredo and Holgado also contributed goals to help Malaysia maintain a perfect record in the two pre-2027 Asian Cup matches.

FIFA considers that FAM and the seven players have been proven to have falsified documents in order to facilitate the transfer of federations, allowing them to play for the Malaysian national team. FIFA has imposed strict sanctions on the seven players of Latin descent.

"After conducting the general procedure, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee evaluated all the evidence in the documents and imposed a sanction that each player must pay a fine of 2,000 Swiss francs or approximately Rp 41.8 million to FIFA," stated FIFA's official announcement.

"The players received an additional sanction with a 12-month (one year) ban from all football activities starting from the date of notification of this decision," FIFA continued.

Not to be outdone, FIFA also penalized Malaysia with a hefty fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (Rp 7.32 billion). The decision was made after the Football Association of Malaysia was found to have provided false documents to FIFA and used counterfeit documents belonging to the players.

The loss of seven key new players will certainly disadvantage the Malaysian national team in their ambition to compete in the 2027 Asian Cup. Of the seven players, they have each played an average of two matches for Harimau Malaya, except for Imanol, who has recorded one match due to not participating in two friendly matches earlier in September.

Figueiredo has even become a new goal source for the Malaysian national team coached by Australian Coach Peter Cklamovski. The bald-headed striker has scored three goals for his new country.

With that sanction, they will not participate in the remaining seven qualifying matches for the 2027 Asian Cup during the period from October 2025 to March 2026. The matches consist of two games against Laos, an away match against Nepal, and then a game at home against Vietnam.

We will appeal using all available channels against the decision.

The impact of the sanctions is not only felt by the Malaysian national team. The champion club of the Malaysian League for the last 11 seasons, JDT, will also experience the repercussions. Figueiredo, Irazabal, and Hevel are the mainstays of the "Southern Tigers," the nickname of JDT, at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season, particularly with the ambition to dominate in Southeast Asia through the ASEAN Championship and to create history in Asia via the Elite Asian Champions League.

Irazabal, for instance, has played in nine matches out of 10 games for JDT. He has also contributed four goals. Hevel has appeared in eight matches with a total of three assists. Meanwhile, Figueiredo has played in 10 matches, contributing 10 goals and two assists.

Four other players must also stay off the green field and will not be able to play for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season. All of these naturalized Malaysian players will only be able to return to play on September 27, 2026.

In response to the sanctions, FAM immediately issued an official statement on Saturday (27/9/2025) at midnight local time. According to the Acting President of FAM, Datuk Wira Mohammad Yusoff Haji Mahadi, they did not make any errors throughout the naturalization process of the seven players, from the transfer of citizenship to their participation in official matches for Harimau Malaya.

"FAM is processing all documents and procedures related to (naturalization) following established guidelines. FIFA has even reviewed the players' eligibility and officially certified them as fit to represent Malaysia," Yusoff said in an official statement received by Kompas on Friday evening WIB.

FAM, he continued, will coordinate with the Government of Malaysia and all stakeholders to ensure that the process being carried out is correct and based on the spirit of sportsmanship.

"We will appeal using all available channels against that decision. We are committed to taking firm action, adhering to international regulations, and upholding the integrity of the country's football," said Yusoff.

"Harimau Malaya" actually received good news last Friday. For the first time, Malaysia has a player who is a candidate for the Asian Player of the Year according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He is Arif Aiman, a winger for JDT and the Malaysian national team.

The 23-year-old player will compete with two stars from the Middle East. They are the forward and captain of the Qatar national team, Akram Afif, and Salem al-Dawsari, who is a key forward and captain of the Saudi Arabian national team.

Afif and Al-Dawsari are the reigning champions of the best footballer award for players based in Asia in the last three editions. Afif achieved this prestigious accolade in the 2019 and 2023 editions. Meanwhile, Al-Dawsari won this prestigious individual title in 2022.

Arif is a gem who thrives amidst the anomalies of Malaysian football. He is able to endure the onslaught of naturalized players who fill Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and the Malaysian national team.

The Pahang native already has 37 caps for Malaysia, scoring seven goals. At the start of the 2025-2026 season, he made nine appearances for JDT, contributing 12 goals, including five goals and seven assists. During the 2024-2025 season, he appeared in 42 matches, scoring 19 goals and providing 15 assists for his teammates.

Arif is the second ASEAN player to be nominated for this prestigious award, following in the footsteps of Thai legend Therdsak Chaiman in 2003.