FIFA has overturned the results of three Malaysia international matches following a ruling that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) fielded ineligible players. The decision, announced on December 17, 2025, marks a significant setback for Malaysian football and follows an investigation into the eligibility of seven naturalized players.
The matches affected by the ruling are: Malaysia vs. Cape Verde (May 29, 2025), which ended in a 1-1 draw; Malaysia vs. Singapore (September 4, 2025), a 2-1 victory for Malaysia; and Malaysia vs. Palestine (September 8, 2025), which Malaysia won 1-0. FIFA has now declared all three matches as 3-0 defeats for Malaysia.
In addition to overturning the match results, FIFA's disciplinary committee has imposed a fine of CHF 10,000 (approximately RM51,414) on FAM. The initial investigation and subsequent sanctions arose from concerns about the documentation provided for seven naturalized players: Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Gabriel Palmero, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. FIFA alleged that FAM submitted falsified documents to confirm the players' eligibility before Malaysia's 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. FIFA determined that the FAM violated the FIFA Disciplinary Code by fielding ineligible players in the three Tier 1 international fixtures earlier this year.
The FAM has denied any wrongdoing and initially appealed the sanctions to FIFA, but the appeal was rejected last month. The association has now taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and filed an appeal on December 8, with detailed legal arguments to be submitted to the CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on December 18.
Adding to the penalties for FAM, each of the seven players has received a 12-month ban from all football activities and an individual fine of 2,000 Swiss francs. FIFPro, the global players' union, has protested the FIFA ban, calling the players "victims" and the bans "grossly disproportionate". They argue that the players relied on institutions outside their control and should not face suspension from their clubs.
If CAS upholds FIFA's ruling, Malaysia could face further penalties from the AFC, potentially including the overturning of their 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This match featured the ineligible players. FIFA’s investigation revealed discrepancies in the players’ claimed Malaysian ancestry, alleging that their grandparents were born in other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands.
The current situation is considered the harshest disciplinary action in Malaysian football history. Tunku Ismail, the Regent of Johor, has accused FIFA of attempting to block FAM from taking the case to CAS. FAM's next steps involve submitting a written request to FIFA to obtain the grounds for the decision before considering its next course of action. The outcome of the CAS appeal will be crucial in determining the long-term consequences for Malaysian football.
