In September 2025, FIFA imposed fines and suspensions on seven players who played for the Malaysia national football team. The world governing body alleged that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) provided forged documents for seven foreign-born players who later played for the Malaysia national football team. [1] FAM denied wrongdoing and appealed the sanctions. On 3 November, FIFA rejected Malaysia's appeal.
In 2018, the Malaysia national football team dropped to 178th place in the FIFA rankings, its lowest ever ranking. [2] This prompted the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to begin scouting for "heritage players" or players of foreign origin who are asked to change their sporting nationality to play for the national team either through residency or Malaysian ancestry. [3]
Between 2018 and October 2025, 23 footballers were granted Malaysian citizenship. [3] [4]
In January 2025, the Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim announced that six to seven "heritage players" had been identified for possible inclusion in the national football team. He expressed hope that the Malaysian government would assist them in obtaining Malaysian passports to enable their participation in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Tunku Ismail also owns Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. (JDT), a club he heavily financed to assert dominance over Malaysian domestic football for more than a decade. [2] From March to June 2025, FAM processed the FIFA eligibility for seven players by submitting their birth certificates as well as those of their grandparents. FIFA cleared the players, who were ruled eligible to play for the Malaysian national team. [2] [5]
The seven players were:
| Name | Non-Malaysian nationality |
|---|---|
| Facundo Garcés |  Argentina |
| Rodrigo Holgado | |
| Imanol Machuca | |
| João Figueiredo |  Brazil |
| Jon Irazabal |  Spain |
| Gabriel Palmero | |
| Hector Hevel |  Netherlands |
All featured in Malaysia's 4–0 win against Vietnam in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers third round Group F match on 10 June 2025; additionally, Hector Hevel also featured in the earlier 2–0 win over Nepal in the very same qualifiers. [3]
FIFA received an anonymous complaint a day after the Vietnam game disputing the eligibility of the seven players. [6] In August 2025, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against FAM. This action was not known to the general public. [2]
On 26 September, FIFA imposed a fine of CHF 350,000 (approximately RM 1.9 million) on FAM, while the seven players received individual fines of CHF 2,000 (about RM 10,560) and a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities. [7] This was when the scandal became known to the public. [2]
FIFA released an official report on 6 October detailing falsifications concerning the players' eligibility, including the alleged birthplaces of their grandparents. While FAM claimed that the seven players had grandparents born in Malaysia, FIFA discovered that their grandparents had in fact been born in Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands. [8] [9] Additionally, FIFA expanded its investigation to determine if this was systemic amongst other naturalisations; if proven, Malaysia's wins against Nepal and Vietnam could potentially be overturned into two automatic 3–0 losses. [10]
On 3 November, FIFA dismissed FAM's appeal, with FAM immediately announcing that it would bring the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. [11]
The scandal put FAM as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Registration Department (NRD), the government agencies responsible for handling Malaysian citizenship, under scrutiny from Malaysian football fans and legislators. [12] [13] FAM acknowledged "technical errors" on the document submissions, but maintained that the seven players are Malaysian citizens. [14]
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the issue was regarding the seven players' compliance under FIFA eligibility rules, rather than their citizenship, adding that birth certificates are not required for naturalisation under Malaysia's Constitution, and maintained that the players satisfied the prerequisites required to obtain citizenship, which includes good conduct, the required residency period, and Malaysian Malay proficiency using ministerial discretion on residency requirements. [13] [15]
Tunku Ismail and former sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin questioned the FIFA sanctions. Tunku Ismail alleged that an external party might have influenced the world football body. Both questioned FIFA's apparent reversal since the seven players were previously cleared to play. [14] The NRD denied involvement in the alleged falsification of documents. [16]
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) made neutral statements regarding the issue, while the All Nepal Football Association reportedly requested FIFA to nullify their previous 2–0 defeat to Malaysia. [17] [18] Meanwhile, Vietnamese media claimed that the VFF did not formally file the complaint, citing internal and anomymous sources, contradicting various Malaysian accusations that it was the Vietnamese that first complained to FIFA. [19] Tunku Ismail later claimed that he was informed by AFC about the complaint was "was someone from Vietnam, but not from the federation", questioning why FIFA took a report from an "ordinary individual" that seriously. [20] [21]
The scandal also drew attention to the plight of stateless individuals in Malaysian states such as Sabah, [22] as well as the complex citizenship status of foundlings born in Malaysia and children born to unmarried Malaysian mothers. Critics pointed out the opaque citizenship process in Malaysia, noting that individuals with genuine ties to the country are often denied citizenship. By contrast, citizenship was readily granted to foreigners under questionable circumstances, including this scandal. This raised concerns about the government's misplaced priorities. [3]
All of the following articles are cited in Malaysian language:
the All Nepal Football Association has filed a complaint against Malaysia, after Hector Hevel, one of the goalscorers in Malaysia's 2-0 win over Nepal in March, was ruled ineligible by Fifa – meaning the result could be overturned.
However, according to sources of VnExpress, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has not taken any action regarding FAM's violations and is awaiting the outcome of the appeal against FIFA.
Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has expressed surprise that the report lodged with FIFA over the eligibility of seven Malaysian heritage players did not come from any official of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), but from an ordinary individual..."It was someone from Vietnam, but not from the federation. So we don't know who it was. It wasn't the secretary-general, the president, or anyone from there. That's what AFC told me," said Tunku Ismail.
"I was informed by the Asian Football Confederation that it did not come from the VFF, not the secretary-general or the president. That's quite strange that Fifa would even entertain anyone," he told NST at a press conference today.