Kuala Lumpur - In a dramatic turn of events, the entire executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) resigned on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in the wake of a scandal involving falsified documents for foreign-born players. The resignations follow a FIFA investigation into FAM's use of "heritage players," foreign-born athletes accused of falsely claiming Malaysian ancestry to represent the national team.
The scandal centers around seven players: Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Brandao Figueiredo. FIFA found that FAM submitted false documents claiming these players had Malaysian ancestry. An investigation revealed that none of the players had a parent or grandparent born in Malaysia.
FIFA initially launched an investigation after receiving a complaint following Malaysia's 4-0 victory against Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier in June 2025. In September 2025, FIFA suspended the seven players for a year and fined FAM US$400,000 for submitting the false documents. FIFA accused FAM of attempting to boost the national team's performance by circumventing eligibility rules. In December 2025, FIFA penalized Malaysia again, awarding 3-0 defeats in friendlies and adding US$12,500 in fines.
Acting President Yusoff Mahadi stated the resignations were a voluntary and principled decision to protect the association's reputation and interests and to mitigate further adverse consequences for Malaysian football. He described the move as a response to significant public attention and external scrutiny. The resignations are intended to allow FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to independently assess and address governance and administrative matters within FAM.
FAM has appealed the sanctions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, where the case is pending. On January 26, 2026, CAS granted a temporary reprieve, allowing the seven players to resume their football activities while awaiting a final ruling. However, a sports lawyer clarified that this stay of execution does not indicate the appeal's likely success.
The scandal has prompted police investigations into the alleged falsification of citizenship documents. Police have identified two suspects believed to be involved in the forgery and are working to verify their identities. Authorities are focusing on potential cheating and forgery during the registration process and document submission to FIFA.
The AFC has stated it will wait for FIFA's action to be resolved before involving its own disciplinary committee. The AFC is expected to provide a report of their findings at an upcoming FAM congress. In the meantime, FAM's general-secretary, Noor Azman Rahman, will oversee the association's daily operations with the assistance of the AFC.
The FAM stated the committee had been elected for a four-year mandate covering the 2025–2029 term, and the decision to resign after just 11 months demonstrated that service to Malaysian soccer takes precedence over holding office. The association hopes the resignations will restore confidence among stakeholders.
