Source:REUTERS/Gaby Oraa
[Saba Sports News] Recently, FIFA officially announced that Malaysia falsified documents to naturalize 7 players. The Malaysian Football Association and the players have been fined, and the relevant players are banned for 1 year. FIFA stated in its official announcement: The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven players – Gabriel Felipe Arocha, Facundo Tomas Gaces, Rodrigo Julian Olgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Ilaurri, and Hector Alejandro Herve Serrano – for violating Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code concerning forgery and falsification. The FAM submitted an eligibility inquiry to FIFA and used falsified documents in the process to enable the aforementioned players to take the field. All seven players represented the Malaysian team in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers third round match against Vietnam played on June 10, 2025.