Malaysia to Appeal FIFA Sanctions Over Player Misconduct

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 8 (AP) The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced on Tuesday its intention to appeal against the sanctions imposed by FIFA, after soccer's global governing body accused it of misconduct.

In September, FIFA suspended seven players born overseas who represented Malaysia in a 4-0 victory over Vietnam during a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier in June. These players were handed a 12-month suspension, with FAM fined $438,000, as FIFA cited evidence of falsified or doctored documents.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee's comprehensive report released on Monday highlighted a significant discrepancy between the original birth certificates and those provided by FAM. These documents claimed the players were eligible under FIFA regulations due to having a grandparent born in Malaysia.

However, investigations revealed that these family members were actually born in the same countries as the players: Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain.

“Submitting fraudulent documents to qualify players for a national team is unequivocally cheating and is indefensible,” FIFA stated in the report. “Such actions undermine the integrity of competitions and threaten the core values of football centered on honesty and transparency.”

In a Facebook statement, FAM challenged FIFA's conclusions. “The accusation that players obtained or were aware of fake documents lacks foundation, as no concrete evidence has been shown,” it said. “FAM maintains that the players’ heritage is genuine and they are legitimate Malaysian citizens.”

FAM attributed the situation to an administrative mistake during documentation submission and plans to appeal using original government-certified documents.

“FAM will officially appeal this decision and is devoted to safeguarding the integrity of Malaysian football with factual and genuine documentation,” the statement concluded.

Nevertheless, the FIFA report noted that FAM acknowledged being approached by external agencies regarding the players' heritage and failed to verify the documents independently. FIFA managed to secure the original documents without obstruction, exposing a “lack of proper diligence” by FAM.

The Asian Football Confederation, responsible for the Asian Cup, will review the case's outcomes through its Disciplinary Committee, potentially leading to further sanctions for Malaysia, who are scheduled to play Laos on Thursday.

The disclosures have sparked outcry in Malaysia. “While FAM cited a technical error, a staff mistake, there is a need for improvement given FIFA’s 19-page statement, which severely taints the country’s reputation,” said Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh. “Fans are outraged, aggrieved, and disappointed.” (AP)

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