Overview
- FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that Malaysia’s federation used manipulated documentation to clear seven foreign‑born players for a June 10, 2025 qualifier against Vietnam.
- The sanctioned players are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
- Each player received a 12‑month suspension from all football activities effective upon notification and a 2,000 CHF fine, while the Football Association of Malaysia was fined 350,000 CHF.
- FIFA has formally notified the parties, who have ten days to request the reasoned decision and may appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
- FIFA referred Malaysia’s selection‑criteria issue to the Football Tribunal, and clubs in Argentina, Spain, Colombia and Malaysia must plan without the suspended players through roughly September 2026.