It matters not if FIFA allows the FAM appeal - because it includes serious CITIZENSHIP issues
Constitution strict about CITIZENSHIP - did they reside in Malaysia for 10 years of more, and intend to reside in Malaysia permanently? Did the RENOUNCE or give up all other Citizenship to be/remain Malaysian citizens. Malaysia generally does not allow DUAL Citizenship. Was there abuse of power? Was citizenship wrongly granted?
Under the Constitution of Malaysia - Article 24 Termination of Citizenship, the Government of Malaysia does not recognize dual nationality. - Embassy of Malaysia in Washington Website
Fraudulent/Forged Documents - A serious crime. Was the Ministry/Government involved in generation of said documents, or 'approve' the use of such documents - or did the Players submit forged documents?
Sec. 463 Penal Code - Forgery
464 - Making a false document
465 Punishment of forgery - imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.
466 Forgery of a record of a Court, or a public register of births, etc. -imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine
468 Forgery for the purpose of cheating - imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
471 Using as genuine a forged document
Should the Players, FAM (and/or officials), the Ministry/Government officers and/or Minister be investigated, charged and tried in court for these CRIMES?
Who should Investigate/Inquire - FAM? Or an INDEPENDENT Commission (without FAM or the implicated Ministries)?
Should not the relevant LAW ENFORCEMENT agency already be investigating these CRIMES?
Media Statement – 18/10/2025
Need An INDEPENDENT Inquiry or Royal Commission of Inquiry NOW to Look into The FAM Football Scandal, As It Is About Malaysian Citizenship and Fraudulent/Forged Documents
FAM and possibly implicated Ministries Should Not Be Involved
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) scandal is now a BIG issue for Malaysians, and it does not end even if FAM is subsequently successful in its appeal at FIFA.
The issue is about the granting of Malaysian citizenship to these 7 foreign footballers, and whether Malaysia issued or used fraudulent/forged documents about, amongst others possibly the proof of birth of parents/grandparents of these footballers so that they satisfy the eligibility requirements of FIFA. FIFA requires not just proof of nationality, but proof of other matters, including proof the acquiring of new nationality was not for the purpose of participating for Malaysia at international tournaments.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee found that FAM and/or the said players breached Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), which is the offence of forgery and falsification, which is also a serious crime in Malaysia. It states, ‘forged a document, falsifies an authentic document or uses a forged or falsified document.’ Article 22(2) also states ‘An association or a club may be held liable for an act of forgery or falsification by one of its officials and/or players.’ So, it is useless shifting blame to one FAM office bearer, or the players.
Citizenship has strict requirements that need to be complied with
When it comes to the issuance of citizenship, by naturalization under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution, there is that requirement, amongst others, that the applicant need to have resided in Malaysia for an ‘aggregate to not less than ten years in the twelve years immediately preceding the date of the application’ and ‘…intends, if the certificate is granted, to do so permanently…’. Was this requirement even satisfied in this case?
DUAL citizenship not allowed
The next issue, is whether these foreign players, now allegedly Malaysian citizens have already renounced their other national citizenship/s they held, and now are only Malaysian citizens. Malaysia does not allow Malaysian citizens to have DUAL Citizenship, and this principle clear having reference to Article 23-25 of the Federal Constitution.
Birthplace of parents/grandparents not a requirement for Malaysian citizenship
The fact that your parent or grandparent was born in Malaysia, or resided before in Malaysia is irrelevant in the consideration for the granting of a Malaysian citizenship. Only FIFA is interested in this as they do not want any national team to simply grant citizenship to foreign nationals so that they can play in tournaments representing Malaysia.
Some may argue that it has happened before, where foreigners have been given citizenship so that they can represent Malaysia, so what is the big deal now. It was wrong then, and past wrongs are never a justification for committing the same crimes/wrongdoing again. In fact, as there is no limitation to criminal prosecution in Malaysia, these past crimes should now be investigated and the wrongdoers should be prosecuted in accordance to Malaysian law.
INDEPENDENT investigation – not FAM or any Ministry possibly involved
Thus, these are serious issues of citizenship and fraud/forged documents, that ought to be now investigated or inquired into by an INDEPENDENT body or commission, maybe even a Royal Commission of Inquiry, as it not only concerns the wrongdoings or crimes of FAM, but also implicates several Ministries.
This Independent body naturally ought not include any FAM officials, or even anyone from the 2 implicated Ministries, being the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia, including Minister Hannah Yeoh and Minister Saifuddin Nasution.
Attempts to lay blame on just some officials will not work
Thus, it was shocking to see that FAM, not even the Sports Ministry, seems to be conducting an Investigation now. FAM and/or Ministry should have investigated immediately when the allegations surfaced, certainly not now after FIFA already heard the matter and made a ruling.
It was reported that the ‘Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary Noor Azman Rahman has been suspended amid the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations that falsified documents were submitted to Fifa on the issue of naturalized players…“The general secretary will be suspended with immediate effect in order to allow the committee to carry out its duties,” he[FAM deputy president S Sivasundaram] told a press conference (FMT, 17/10/2025).
This is so wrong and unacceptable.
The investigation must be conducted by an Independent Committee/Commission, and it ought not include any FAM officials, or even anyone from the 2 implicated Ministries, being the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia, including Minister Hannah Yeoh and Minister Saifuddin Nasution.
We believe that Malaysians would want a TRULY Malaysian team competing at international tournaments, and not a team that comprises of foreign nationals, who had questionably been granted Malaysian citizenship. How sad for Malaysian players, who lost their spot to play for Malaysia, which was taken by these ‘new citizens of Malaysia’.
Amend Federal Constitution if you want to make foreign athletes Malaysians
If Malaysia, wants to grant Malaysian citizenship to foreign athletes or sports persons, then the Federal Constitution need to be amended first to add in this ‘new way’ of making foreign national citizens. The government should table the needed Constitutional amendments in Parliament, and if passed by a two third majority in Parliament, then foreign athletes can become Malaysian citizen. Now, even the Home Minister cannot on his discretion grant anyone citizenship – the law must be strictly complied with even by the Minister or Prime Minister.
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture), that is concerned with human rights and justice, hopes that this ‘football scandal’ will not simply put to rest if and when FIFA allows FAM’s appeal. This is a SERIOUS issue that cannot be swept under the carpet. It must be investigated, and all wrongdoers including even possibly Ministers should be prosecuted in accordance to law.
Conduct Independent Inquiry Now – No need to wait for FIFA’s Appeal
MADPET calls for Malaysia to immediately set up a INDEPENDENT Commission/Committee of Inquiry, including possibly a Royal Commission of Inquiry to deal with this issue that affects all Malaysians especially when it involves creating new citizens, and the serious allegation of fraudulent or forged documents. As the outcome of the appeal to FIFA is irrelevant, this commencement of an independent inquiry with a view of all prosecuting all those criminally liable must start now.
Charles Hector
For and on behalf of MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
FAM gen sec suspended amid falsified document controversy
Noor Azman Rahman previously said the dispute stemmed from a 'technical error' by an administrative staff in FAM when submitting documents to Fifa.
Last week, Fifa issued a statement saying that contrary to documents submitted by FAM claiming that the grandparents of seven naturalised players were born in Malaysia, its own investigation found original records indicating the grandparents were actually born in Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands.
FAM deputy president S Sivasundaram today said it has formed a committee to prevent this issue from happening again.
“The general secretary will be suspended with immediate effect in order to allow the committee to carry out its duties,” he told a press conference at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, here.
“We want the investigation to be carried out transparently. Let the committee decide what went wrong.”
Noor Azman previously said that the dispute stemmed from a “technical error” by an administrative staff in FAM when submitting documents to Fifa.
Sivasundaram said FAM’s executive committee made the decision to suspend Noor Azman yesterday.
FAM and seven naturalised Malaysian footballers were penalised by Fifa last month after the world football body said FAM had submitted falsified documents to confirm the seven players’ eligibility prior to Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
FAM was fined 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million), while the players – Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel – were each fined 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities.
In a statement last week, FAM said the dispute stemmed from an “administrative error” after a staff member mistakenly uploaded documents from an agent instead of official ones issued by the national registration department (JPN).
When asked whether any action had been taken against the staff member for the error, Sivasundaram said the committee was working to identify the staff member involved.
FAM has appealed Fifa’s decision, the result of which will be delivered by Oct 30. A failed appeal could result in points deduction for the national team in their ongoing 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
Malaysia beat Laos 5-1 in their 2027 Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday to maintain their unbeaten record after four matches, keeping them top of Group F with 12 points, followed by Vietnam (9), Laos (3) and Nepal (0).
Malaysia will face Nepal on Nov 18 before concluding their campaign against Vietnam in Hanoi next March. - FMT, 17/10/2025
Art.19 Federal Constitution - Citizenship by naturalization
(1) Subject to Clause (9), the Federal Government may, upon application made by any person of or over the age of twenty-one years who is not a citizen, grant a certificate of naturalization to that person if satisfied—
(a) that—
(i) he has resided in the Federation for the required periods and intends, if the certificate is granted, to do so permanently;
(ii) (Repealed);
(b) that he is of good character; and
(c) that he has an adequate knowledge of the Malay language.
(2) Subject to Clause (9), the Federal Government may, in such special circumstances as it thinks fit, upon application made by any person of or over the age of twenty-one years who is not a citizen, grant a certificate of naturalization to that person if satisfied—
(a) that he has resided in the Federation for the required periods and intends, if the certificate is granted, to do so permanently;
(b) that he is of good character; and
(c) that he has an adequate knowledge of the Malay language.
(3) The periods of residence in the Federation or the relevant part of it which are required for the grant of a certificate of naturalization are periods which amount in the aggregate to not less than ten years in the twelve years immediately preceding the date of the application for the certificate, and which include the twelve months immediately preceding that date.
(4) For the purposes of Clauses (1) and (2) residence before Malaysia Day in the territories comprised in the States of Sabah and Sarawak shall be treated as residence in the Federation; and for the purposes of Clause (2) residence in Singapore before Malaysia Day or with the approval of the Federal Government residence in Singapore after Malaysia Day shall be treated as residence in the Federation.
(5) A person to whom a certificate of naturalization is granted shall be a citizen by naturalization from the date on which the certificate is granted.
(6) (Repealed).
(7) (Repealed).
(8) (Repealed).
(9) No certificate of naturalization shall be granted to any person until he has taken the oath set out in the First Schedule.
22. Forgery and falsification
1. Anyone who, in football-related activities, forges a document, falsifies an authentic document or uses a forged or falsified document will be sanctioned with a fine and a ban of at least six matches or for a specific period of no less than 12 months.
2. An association or a club may be held liable for an act of forgery or falsification by one of its officials and/or players.
- https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/59dca8ae619101cf/original/FIFA-Disciplinary-Code-2023.pdf
FIFA RULES GOVERNING ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS
ART. 5 PRINCIPLES
1. Any person holding a permanent nationality that is not dependent on residence in a certain country is eligible to play for the representative teams of the association of that country.
2. There is a distinction between holding a nationality and being eligible to obtain a nationality. A player holds a nationality, if, through the operation of a national law, they have:
a) automatically received a nationality (e.g. from birth) without being required to undertake any further administrative requirements (e.g. abandoning a separate nationality); or
b) acquired a nationality by undertaking a naturalisation process.
3. With the exception of the conditions specified in article 9 below, any player who has already participated in a match (either in full or in part) in an official competition of any category or any type of football for one association may not play an international match for a representative team of another association.
4. For the purposes of arts 6 to 9 below, the phrase “lived on the territory of the relevant association” shall mean a period of physical presence on the territory of that association. The period shall be for a defined period of time (in years) in accordance with the relevant provision.
a) The period of physical presence is not interrupted by:
i) short absences abroad for personal reasons;
ii) holidays abroad during the football off-season;
iii) medical treatment or rehabilitation abroad following injury or illness; or
iv) travel abroad as a result of football employment.
b) The period of physical presence is interrupted (and time requirement resets) where:
i) a player is transferred to a club affiliated to a different association; or
ii) a player is absent from a territory for any reason other than those set out in par. a) above.
5. Notwithstanding art. 5 par. 4 a), unless exceptional circumstances exist, a player must be physically present on the territory of an association for at least 183 days during a 12 month period to be considered to have “lived on the territory” of that association for that year.
6. For the purposes of arts 6 to 9 below, the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players’ Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber shall govern any requests for eligibility or change of association....
ART. 7 ACQUISITION OF A NEW NATIONALITY
1. Any player who refers to art. 5 par.1 to assume a new nationality and who has not played international football in accordance with art. 5 par. 3 shall be eligible to play for the representative teams of the new association only if he fulfils one of the following conditions:
a) He was born on the territory of the relevant association;
b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant association;
c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant association;
d) He has lived on the territory of the relevant association:
i) for players that began living on the territory before the age of 10: at least three years;
ii) for players that began living on the territory between the age of 10 and 18: at least five years;
iii) for players that began living on the territory from the age of 18: at least five years.
2. A player who seeks to rely upon par. d ii) must:
a) demonstrate that the move to the territory of the association was not for the purpose of participating for its representative teams; and
b) submit, via the relevant association, a request for eligibility to the Players’ Status Committee.
Source:- https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/ccab990abf45fcf6/original/ro8mje8vw98yp3rvfbmi-pdf.pdf
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