Malaysia Appeals FIFA Ban Over Player Eligibility Scandal

Malaysia’s football federation has appealed FIFA’s decision to suspend seven national team players and impose a $440,000 fine over an eligibility scandal. The players, all foreign-born, were banned for a year after the world football body accused the Football Association of Malaysia, FAM, of submitting falsified ancestry documents to secure their eligibility.

FIFA’s investigation found none of the players, who featured in Malaysia’s 4–0 win over Vietnam in June, had parents or grandparents from the country. FAM, however, insists it acted in good faith and blamed the controversy on a “technical error.”

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Acting president Yusoff Mahadi told reporters the appeal is being handled with greater care, describing it as a “second round” of the process. He spoke during Malaysia’s 5–1 Asian Cup qualifier win over Laos on Tuesday.