In a continuing eligibility controversy involving forged documents used for an Asia Cup qualifier, FIFA announced on Monday that it had dismissed the appeals made by Malaysia’s football federation (FAM) and its seven players.
In September, the world’s governing body fined the FAM $440,000 and suspended seven Malaysia national team players who were born abroad for a year.
FIFA accused the nation’s federation of providing false or fabricated documents that claimed the players had Malaysian ancestry and were therefore qualified to represent the Southeast Asian nation.
No one in Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, or Joao Brandao Figueiredo, who helped Malaysia defeat Vietnam 4-0 in the Asian Cup qualifier, were born in the nation, according to an investigation by the body.
READ MORE: Malaysia Appeales FIFA Suspensions In Eligibility Scandal
Before suspending its secretary-general and declaring it would establish an independent committee to investigate, FAM appealed the decision in October.
However, FIFA’s appeal committee said on Monday that it had “decided to dismiss the appeals” and “to confirm” sanctions against the parties after conducting a hearing and reviewing the submissions.
The players will be fined $2, 500 each and prohibited from any football-related activity for a year, respectively, while the FAM will have to pay its $440, 000 fine.
Before filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, FAM acting president Yusoff Mahadi stated that the Malaysian football organization would get in touch with FIFA for more information.
Our legal team and management are shocked by the decision, Yusoff continued. “This is the first time FAM has encountered such a situation.”
Source: Channels TV
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