The Football Association of (FAM) said on Tuesday it would challenge world football governing body , after being accused of “cheating” in their 4-0 victory over Vietnam in an Asia Cup qualifying game in June.
Malaysia fielded an almost all-new lineup in that game, with seven debutants in the starting 11 who FIFA allege are not qualified to represent the country.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee published its full findings on Monday, and early on Tuesday, the FAM said it had received the judgement and “will formally appeal through the established legal channels.”
“FAM views seriously several conclusions, particularly the allegations that the players ‘obtained forged documents’ or deliberately attempted to evade eligibility rules. FAM emphasizes that there is no evidence to support these allegations presented by FIFA,” the FAM said in a statement.
FIFA suspended the seven players — Facundo Tomas Garces, Rordigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, Hector Alejandro and Hevel Serrano — for 12 months and fined the FAM $438,000 (roughly €375,000).
What is the eligibility dispute about?
Under FIFA’s rules, foreign-born players can represent a country if they are a naturalized citizen and can demonstrate that a biological parent or grandparent was born in that country.
Several Asian countries have been looking to find diaspora talent in recent years, partly in response to .
Simply obtaining the relevant citizenship, however, does not suffice, in a bid to stop football associations from importing talent without a connection to the country.
Several national football associations and players have fallen foul of these rules and documentation requirements in the past, but the current case, involving the wholesale introduction of an almost all-new starting lineup, is unprecedented in scope.
FIFA: this constitutes a form of cheating, ‘pure and simple’
FIFA alleges that Malaysian authorities used forged documents to show its seven new players had the requisite roots in the country, a charge the FAM disputes.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee said in its report published on Monday that using fraudulent documentation to allow a player to compete “constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating, which cannot in any way be condoned.”
“Such conduct erodes trust in the fairness of competitions and jeopardizes the very essence of football as an activity founded on honesty and transparency,” the Disciplinary Committee wrote.
According to FIFA’s investigators, all seven of the grandparents who were claimed to be born in various parts of Malaysia were in fact born in Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands. FIFA claims it was “able to obtain the relevant original documents” showing this without hindrance, saying this highlighted a “lack of proper diligence” on the FAM’s part.
FAM maintains all seven should be eligible to compete in future
The FAM, however, defends both its conduct and that of its new players, and still calls for FIFA to approve all seven to play for the country in the future.
“At all times, the players acted in good faith, relying entirely on the verification and registration process conducted by FAM,” the association said on Tuesday. “FAM is of the opinion that this portrayal is inaccurate and unfair, and this matter will be fully raised through the official appeal process.”
The FAM is also facing a public and political backlash at home amid the case.
“Although FAM has issued a statement saying it was a technical error, a mistake by their staff, all of that needs improvement because the 19-page statement contains very serious remarks by FIFA, which tarnish the country’s image,” Hannah Yeoh, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister said. “Fans are angry, hurt and disappointed.”
Edited by: Wesley Rahn
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