Source:REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
[Saba Sports News] FIFA just released important news on its official website, announcing the suspension of the Football Association of Malaysia due to irregularities in the naturalization process of players. It is reported that the Malaysian FA forged and altered documents to enable 7 players to obtain eligibility, such as using goalkeeper Garces’ “great-grandfather’s” Malaysian ancestry as the basis for naturalization, and staff altering the date of birth on scanned passport copies. This seriously violates Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code regarding forgery and falsification, undermining the fair competition environment in football. Ultimately, the 7 players were each fined 2,000 Swiss Francs and banned for 12 months. This not only caused financial losses for the Malaysian FA but also significantly impacted the careers of the 7 players. It may also lead to the annulment of the Malaysian national team’s results in the Asian Cup qualifiers, affecting the team’s qualification prospects. Our editorial team believes this is a serious incident that undermines football regulations and the fair competition environment, with widespread and profound implications.