Overview

• FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee found Malaysia used manipulated documentation to field seven recently naturalized players in an official match, violating Article 22 on document falsification.
• The sanctions include 12‑month suspensions from all football‑related activities for the seven players, effective from the date of notification.
• The Malaysian FA was fined 350,000 Swiss francs, and each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs.
• The affected players — Gabriel Arrocha, Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal and Hector Hevel — appeared in Malaysia’s 10 June 2025 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam.
• The parties have 10 days to request the reasoned decision and may appeal to the FIFA Appeals Committee, while eligibility criteria issues have been referred to the FIFA Football Tribunal.