Overview

• FIFA released its reasoned decision confirming manipulated nationality records, including verification that Facundo Garcés’s grandfather was born in Argentina rather than Malaysia.
• Seven players were ruled ineligible for 12 months from all football activities, with three Argentines — Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garcés and Rodrigo Holgado — among those sanctioned.
• FIFA fined the Football Association of Malaysia 350,000 Swiss francs and imposed 2,000 Swiss franc fines on each player, while also referring the eligibility question to the Football Tribunal.
• The case stemmed from a complaint after Malaysia’s 10 June win over Vietnam; clubs have been notified and the players are weighing appeals to FIFA bodies and potentially CAS.
• Separately, Malaysia’s competitions management website was taken offline by a ransomware-style attack that displayed a payment demand threatening database deletion.