OFFICIAL: FIFA rejects appeal, Malaysia receives sanctions following player naturalization scandal

The FIFA Appeal Committee (FAC) has dismissed all appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalized players, while upholding penalties related to the use of forged documents.

FIFA rejects all appeals from the Malaysian Football Association

The decision was announced at 9 PM tonight (November 3, Hanoi time), three days later than the date FAM had previously stated in a press conference on October 17. "After reviewing all documents and conducting the hearing, the FIFA Appeal Committee decided to reject all appeals," stated FAC. The committee also confirmed that the disciplinary measures imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee (FDC) on September 26 remain unchanged, including violations related to forgery and providing false information.

As a result, FAM must pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately 11.5 billion VND). The seven players — Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Hector Hevel, and Joao Figueireido — are each fined 2,000 Swiss francs and banned from all football activities for 12 months, starting from September 26.