Football Association of Malaysia and Players Face Sanctions for Falsifying Heritage Records
Football's governing body has upheld fines and bans against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven players for submitting falsified records to allow "heritage players" to represent Malaysia. The Appeal Committee emphasized the importance of football's integrity and condemned FAM's attempts to deceive the governing body. The players were found to have submitted forged birth certificates claiming Malaysian heritage, leading to their disqualification.
Fifa's investigation revealed that the players had no genuine connection to Malaysia and had completed naturalization processes to play in friendly matches and Asian Cup qualifiers. The ruling directs prosecutors in several countries to investigate the falsification of official documents as a punishable offense. Fifa also ordered an internal review of FAM's governance and documentation processes, citing inconsistencies in their account of the forged certificates.
The players were criticized for their negligence in signing Malaysian naturalization forms without verifying the information. The sanctions imposed on FAM and the players include fines, suspensions, and appeal costs. Colombian club America de Cali terminated one player's contract, while Spanish club Deportivo Alaves supported another player pending further adjudication.
Despite FAM's intention to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the sanctions against them and the players remain in place. The fines, suspensions, and costs must be paid as per the ruling. The Appeal Committee's decision underscores the importance of upholding the integrity of football and penalizing any attempts to deceive the governing body.