Yesterday (September 26), the World Football Federation (FIFA) announced that FAM had violated the rules in requesting a license to play for 7 naturalized players, all of whom were used in the match against Vietnam on June 10. FIFA also imposed penalties on FAM and the players involved. Immediately, many major newspapers and news agencies in the world simultaneously reported on the scandal of Malaysian football.
Spanish newspaper Marca published an article with the title: "Facundo Garces suspended by FIFA for 12 months". The article stated that Deportivo Alaves unexpectedly suffered a loss of force when player Facundo Garces was suspended by FIFA for 12 months for using fake documents to play for the Malaysian team:
"Deportivo Alaves have been dealt a blow after FIFA announced a 12-month ban for player Facundo Garces. The punishment was given for falsifying documents to qualify to play for the Malaysian national team.
Facundo Garces is at high risk of not being able to play for Alaves Club (Photo: Getty).
The world football governing body said the sanction, effective immediately, bans Garcas from “any football-related activity”. This means he will not be able to play for either Malaysia or Alaves. The decision is a huge loss for Alaves, especially as the team prepares for an important upcoming match. Coach Coudet will likely be without the services of this defensive pillar.
Not only Garces, six other Malaysian players were also fined in this incident, including Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Gabriel Palmero.
The news came as a big surprise to Alaves, who were on their way to Mallorca and Garces was still in the squad. However, Vitoria-Gasteiz said they only learned of the situation through the media, as they had not received any official notification from FIFA.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has insisted that the players involved and FAM itself have acted in “good faith and with complete transparency” throughout the process. FAM stressed that they have followed established guidelines and that FIFA had previously reviewed the players’ qualifications, officially confirming their eligibility to represent Malaysia.
FIFA began its investigation after receiving a complaint on June 10, following Malaysia's win over Vietnam. The body has been analysing the authenticity of all documents submitted so that Malaysia can call up these players. Yesterday, FIFA ruled that some of the documents had been doctored. In Garces' case, his connection to Malaysia is said to stem from his grandfather's origins."
ESPN Argentina published the article: "Global scandal: Three Argentine soccer players suspended by FIFA for a year".
The Argentine version of ESPN published information about the Malaysian team's scandal (Photo: screenshot).
The article reads: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced on September 26 a one-year ban on seven players from all football-related activities, including three Argentinian players: Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces and Rodrigo Holgado.
The reason given by the world football governing body is that the aforementioned players, along with Gabriel Palmero, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel, have violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code on the falsification of documents. FAM sent a request to FIFA regarding the selection criteria and in the process, used falsified documents to put the aforementioned players on the field.
Imanol Machuca is playing for Velez after a spell at Fortaleza, Facundo Garces left Colon this year to play for Alaves. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Holgado plays for America de Cali.”
Jon Irazabal (right) plays for Malaysia in the match against Vietnam (Photo: Getty).
AP news agency published an article: "FIFA punishes Malaysia for sending foreign players onto the field with fake documents". The article stated: "FIFA has just decided to heavily fine FAM 438,000 USD for falsifying documents to naturalize 7 foreign players to serve the national team.
The seven players found guilty include Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Gabriel Palmero. All were born overseas and played in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in June. That victory is now at risk of being annulled.
FIFA said on September 26 that the players had seriously violated regulations on counterfeiting and fraud. This is the latest case of fraudulent registration in international football, often involving players of Brazilian origin, aimed at exploiting FIFA regulations that allow some foreign-born players to change their nationality.
Previously, Timor Leste was also disqualified from the 2023 Asian Cup for using fake birth certificates for players in World Cup qualifying matches. Similarly, both the men's and women's teams of Equatorial Guinea were also found to have cheated in qualifying matches for many major tournaments, including the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 World Cup.
The British news agency Reuter, in a brief news report sent to readers, used the headline: “Malaysian players banned for using fake documents to play in the qualifying round against Vietnam”. The content of the news report said: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee said that seven players – Garces, Gabriel Arrocha (Unionistas de Salamanca), Rodrigo Holgado (America de Cali), Imanol Machuca (Velez Sarsfield), Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel (all Johor Darul Ta'zim) – have been suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities”.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/bao-chi-the-gioi-dong-loat-len-tieng-vu-malaysia-dung-cau-thu-trai-phep-20250927112318956.htm
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