FIFA Sanctions Malaysian Football Association Over Falsified Naturalization Documents
Zurich, Switzerland – โฃFIFA has โคimposed sanctions on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalizedโข players after uncovering โฃevidence of falsified documentation used to circumvent eligibility regulations. A FIFA โขinquiry,โข spurred by official complaints,โฃ revealed that claims โofโฃ Malaysian ancestry for the players were untrue, leading โto disciplinary action.
The seven players – identified as Arrocha,Garces,Holgado,Machuca,Figueredo,iraurgui,and Serrano – were initially naturalized based onโ assertions that their grandparents were born in Malaysia. โFIFA launched an investigation into the eligibility of Arrocha, Holgado, Machuca, Iraurgui, โขand Serrano, noting the recent timing ofโค their arrival in Malaysia, their debut for local clubs, โขand the swiftness of their naturalization and international appearances.
The investigation, conducted by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, focused on verifying the players’โ ancestral claims. FIFA obtained original birth certificates which contradicted the information provided โขby FAM. For example, documentation โขproved that Arrocha’s grandmother, Maria Belen Concepcion Martin, was born in Santa โคCruz deโ La Palma, Spain, and Tomas Garces’s grandfather, Carlos โขRogelio Garces Fernandez, was born in Santaโ Fe De Laโ cruz,โ Argentina – not โคPenang, Malaysia, as claimed.
“Based on existing evidence, the Secretariat confidently can determine that the documents submitted by FAM are fake and thatโข the players have used these documentsโข to avoid and violate the applicable FIFA regulations to meet โthe โrequirements to representโ the FAM team,” FIFA stated in its report.
FIFA determined that FAM had violated Articleโ 22 of its disciplinary code concerning naturalization. The sanctions imposedโข on FAM and the players have not been publicly detailed, but FIFA confirmed a disciplinary process was held.
FAM has released an official statement indicating they will appeal FIFA’s investigation report.
This case highlights the stringent regulationsโ surroundingโ player eligibility โand the importance of accurate documentationโฃ in international football. FIFA’s investigation underscores โits commitment to upholding the integrity of the game and ensuring fair competition.
(ASM/SAR)
