In this case, the one's who committed a crime is the 7 so-called heritage players - because FIFA found that they submitted FORGED documents to prove the Malaysian Citizenship, and to show they had parents/grandparents that were born in Malaysia.
FIFA had ruled in September that the FAM and players used forged or falsified birth certificates of the players’ grandparents to secure their eligibility to play for the national team.
Forged or Falsified Birth Certificates - these are probably documents issued by Malaysian government OR forgeries - SERIOUS CRIMES?
The police/law enforcement should immediately commence criminal investigations into these alleged crimes of these 7 (now Malaysian citizens, previously foreign nationals) - with a view of prosecuting them for their CRIMES - no need to wait any other Committee to investigate first.
Of course, the investigation must include ACCOMPLICES - who forged these documents, obtained this documents, etc....
ATTEMPT to deceive us???
Recently, there was news about an independent committee set up (by FAM? Not Ministry or Government?) to investigate the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) case - but wait, who set up this 'Independent Committee' - Was it the Government? Was it the Sports Minister? A quick perusal of the media reports seems to suggest that this INDEPENDENT Committee seem to be set up by FAM(the football association) - not the Ministry or the government - it becomes clear when we see that the object of this INDEPENDENT committee is to “prepare a report and provide recommendations for FAM’s consideration and follow-up action”.
So, it is a FAM's Independent Committee - REMEMBER FAM is certainly implicated in this CRIME/WRONGDOING - I do not think the 7 players alone can submit the application to FIFA to play for Malaysia - it most likely was done with FAM, with FAM's full knowledge and possibly consent...
It would have made SOME sense if the Hannah Yeoh or the Sports Minister set up an INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE to investigate FAM, the 7 Heritage Players, and issues that came to light in the FIFA proceedings - but it was not the MINISTER but just FAM?
Since it involves the issue of citizenship, and documents that most likely came from the Home Ministry - it may have made sense if the Investigating Committee or RCI was set up by PM Anwar Ibrahim or the MADANI government...
NOW - news that 'The seven naturalized players sanctioned by FIFA for document fraud are reportedly considering legal action against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to seek compensation for lost income during their one year of suspension.' - Does this means that the 7 who allegedly did wrong are now blaming FAM - So, was the wrong/crime instigated or caused by FAM?
YES, Law Enforcement and the Public Prosecutor must IMMEDIATELY commence a CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION with a view of charging ALL alleged criminals in Court - including the said 7 'Heritage' Malaysian players, and all ACCOMPLICES including those who generated FORGED documents, possibly documents allegedly issued by Malaysia, ....
Can also the Minister Hannah Yeoh, being the SPORTS Minister responsible for the Malaysian Football Association also be charged for CRIMES?
Then, there still remains the issue of CITIZENSHIP - this too must be investigated as our FEDERAL CONSTITUTION is very strict about citizenship. Our Minister 'After FIFA’s ruling in September, Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had told parliament that the government had followed the law and given the seven players citizenship based on a provision in Malaysia’s constitution.' Is this TRUE? Should Parliament look into this, and not simply believe what the Minister says. Remember, that Malaysia does not recognize DUAL CITIZENSHIP - so are these 7 players now ONLY Malaysian citizens, or do they still have their former citizenship or have
Art. 24 Federal Constitution Malaysia - Deprivation of citizenship on acquisition or exercise of foreign citizenship, etc.
(2) If the Federal Government is satisfied that any citizen has voluntarily claimed and exercised in any country outside the Federation any rights available to him under the law of that country, being rights accorded exclusively to its citizens, the Federal Government may by order deprive that person of his citizenship.
Minister Saifuddin, have these 7 did any wrong that warrants the Malaysian government acting now to deprive the 7 of their Malaysian Citizenship?
So, besides IMMEDIATE criminal investigation/prosecution - how do we deal with this possible 'CITIZENSHIP Scandal" - ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY - or Attorney General Dusuki, tell us what Malaysia can do if there has been an 'abuse of power' or a 'wrongful issuance of a citizenship to one that does not qualify"? Can be charge the Minister and the relevant officers of a CRIME?
This FAM Fraud/Forgery and CITIZENSHIP scandal is not going away - and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must ACT fast - Law Enforcement and Public Prosecutor must act now (no excuse that is waiting for the appeal or the decision of some FAM Investigative Committee) --
IT HAS EMBARRASSED MALAYSIA WORLD WIDE - it not only has affected FOOTBALL but has affected all Malaysian sports and athletes teams - did Malaysia make 'foreigners' citizens, or even restored Malaysian citizenship to those who already renounced Malaysian citizenship before because of 'sports'?
FIFA dismisses Malaysia FA’s appeal on forgery case involving 7 foreign-born players
FIFA ruled in September that FAM and the players used forged or falsified birth certificates of the players’ grandparents to secure their eligibility to play for the national team.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Football Association of Malaysia will take the case of seven foreign-born players’ eligibility to play for the national team to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after world football governing body FIFA dismissed its appeal.
FIFA had ruled in September that the FAM and players used forged or falsified birth certificates of the players’ grandparents to secure their eligibility to play for the national team.
The seven footballers played in Malaysia’s 4-0 victory against Vietnam in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Jun 10, with two of them each scoring a goal.
The FAM filed an appeal, which FIFA announced it had dismissed on Monday night (Nov 3).
In a statement, FIFA confirmed its sanctions earlier imposed on FAM and the seven players: A fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.85 million or US$438,960) on the FAM and, for the players, a fine each of 2,000 Swiss francs each and a one-year worldwide ban from all football-related activities.
The seven players are Argentina-born Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca; Spain-born Gabriel Felipe Arrocha and Jon Irazabal Iraurgui; Dutch-born Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano and Brazil-born Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo.
The FAM and players were notified of the appeal dismissal on Nov 3, FIFA said.
“They have 10 days in which to request a motivated decision, and following this notification, the parties will have 21 days for a possible appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is independent of any sports organisation and helps to facilitate the settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
FAM acting president Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said on Monday that it would write to FIFA for the full details of the appeal decision before taking the next steps to submit an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“This is the first time FAM is facing this type of situation, and the lawyers and our management are very shocked by this decision,” he said in a statement.
“However, FAM will continue to strongly champion the rights of our players and the interests of Malaysian football at the international level,” he said.
On Tuesday, Johor regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim – who owns Johor Darul Ta’zim, the club that three of the footballers play for – alleged FIFA's sanctions were not "based on the law" and appear to be "politically motivated".
In a Facebook post, he said he would "support the fight for the players at all cost till the end, which will now be at (the Court of Arbitration for Sport) – an independent body".
After FIFA’s ruling in September, Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had told parliament that the government had followed the law and given the seven players citizenship based on a provision in Malaysia’s constitution.
He said the birth certificates of the players’ grandparents were not needed for the naturalisation.
An independent committee has, meanwhile, begun its inquiry into the issue, reported Malaysian news outlet The Star.
Committee chairman Md Raus Sharif, who is Malaysia’s former Chief Justice, said the investigation and report would be completed within six weeks. The FAM has tasked the committee with reviewing the case and submitting recommendations for further action.
“The committee will carry out their duties independently and with full commitment to ensure transparency and fairness in their findings,” Raus, who was appointed on Oct 7, reportedly said.- CNA
Independent committee to submit report on FAM case in 6 weeks
The four-member panel includes former judges and a senior lawyer, with administrative support handled by an external law firm to ensure independence.
The committee’s chairman, Raus Sharif, a former chief justice, said the four-member panel held its first meeting today and would “prepare a report and provide recommendations for FAM’s consideration and follow-up action”.
The other three members of the committee are former Court of Appeal judge Kamaludin Said, former Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit director-general Yusof Ismail, and senior lawyer Thavalingam C Thavarajah, who serves as secretary.
Raus said administrative and secretariat support for the committee will be provided by law firm Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, instead of FAM, to ensure independence and avoid any conflict of interest.
He said none of the members will receive remuneration for their work.
The committee was formed on Oct 7 to investigate and recommend follow-up action to FAM after world football governing body Fifa sanctioned seven naturalised Malaysian players over eligibility issues linked to alleged document falsification.
Fifa fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million) while each player was fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM10,560) and suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities.
FAM has filed an official appeal with Fifa against the sanctions.
A decision had been expected on Oct 30, but FAM has not said whether it has received the official notification. - FMT, 3/11/2025
7 Malaysia naturalized players to seek compensation from FAM following FIFA ban
Four naturalized players appeared at the Malaysian team's training session at Bukit Jalil Stadium on June 2, 2025 (from L): Rodrigo Holgado, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo and Imanol Machuca. Photo by MalaysiaNT
According to Malaysian newspaper Harian Metro, the players are exploring the potential of a lawsuit after FAM admitted to "administrative errors" in the application process to FIFA, which led to a one-year ban from all football activities for them.
"Overseas lawyers are in talks with the seven players to consider a lawsuit against FAM," a source told the newspaper. "This is not surprising as the players have lost their main source of income. Compensation is important for them to survive until the ban ends and to find new clubs."The ban is set to expire on Sept. 26, 2026. The career impact has already been severe for several players.
Forward Rodrigo Holgado had his contract terminated by his Colombian club, América de Cali. Defender Gabriel Palmero was released from his loan at Spanish third-division side Unionistas de Salamanca and his parent club, CD Tenerife, also terminated his contract.
The future of Facundo Garces (Deportivo Alaves) and Imanol Machuca (Velez Sarsfield) is uncertain.
Hector Hevel, Joao Figueireido and Jon Irazabal may find it easier as they play for Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT).
This potential lawsuit adds to FAM's mounting legal and financial pressure. The association is already liable for a 350,000 Swiss franc (US$434,260) fine from FIFA.
Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh, has affirmed that the 15 million ringgit ($3.6 million) allocated by the government for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, where the seven players played in victories against Vietnam and Nepal, cannot be used to pay the FIFA fine.
FAM is also planning a costly appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). JDT owner and Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Idris, has promised to cover all costs for the lawsuit, though FAM has not yet responded to the offer. The association is currently waiting for a detailed decision report from FIFA Appeal Committee before its 21-day window to take the case to CAS begins.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has requested that the matter be resolved before March 31, 2026, when the Asian Cup qualifiers conclude. After CAS made the final ruling, the AFC's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee will also review the case, and FAM still faces a separate case from the FIFA Tribunal regarding the players' eligibility. - VNE Express, 9/11/2025
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