Hanoi, 26 September, 2025 – The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has issued a decision sanctioning the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven players for violating Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code concerning the falsification and forgery of player registration documents.
According to FIFA’s announcement, the FAM submitted a player eligibility verification file to FIFA along with altered documents to register seven players: Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano. These players appeared in Malaysia’s match against Vietnam in the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, held on June 10, 2025, at Bukit Jalil Stadium.
After reviewing the case and assessing the evidence, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to fine FAM 350,000 CHF (Swiss francs). Each of the seven players involved was fined 2,000 CHF and banned from participating in football-related activities for 12 months from the date of the decision. Additionally, the matter of the players’ eligibility has been referred to the FIFA Football Tribunal for further review.
According to regulations, FAM and the players in question have 10 days to request the detailed decision and may also appeal to FIFA’s Appeal Committee under current rules.
Once FIFA’s decision takes effect, the Disciplinary Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will review the case and issue its own ruling regarding FAM’s violations.
Huyen Trang
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