<figure id="attachment_3082136" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3082136" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3082136 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/7b819c08-malaysia-menentang-vietnam-bernama-110625-1.webp" alt="malaysia menentang vietnam" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3082136" class="wp-caption-text">FAM and the seven naturalised Malaysian footballers were penalised by Fifa after the world football body said FAM had submitted falsified documents. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has partially upheld an appeal by seven Harimau Malaya heritage players over Fifa sanctions for falsifying naturalisation and eligibility documents.
In a statement, CAS said that the seven players shall receive a ban for 12 months, “but from official matches only and not from all football-related activities”.
“The ban from playing matches starts today, March 5, 2026, with credit for the period from Sept 25 until Jan 26 included, where the ban was effectively served.”
FAM and the players submitted appeals over the Fifa sanctions on Dec 5, requesting that the penalties be annulled in their entirety or that a proportionate sanction be issued, “as the players did not act with intent or negligence”.
CAS said that its panel found that the 12-month ban for falsifying documents was a reasonable and proportionate sanction for the players, given their complicit responsibility in the fraud.
However, the panel decided that the ban should only apply to official matches and not to all football-related activities.
“This means the players can resume training with their respective clubs during the ban.”
CAS also dismissed the appeal by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) over the fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (about RM1.8 million) imposed by Fifa.
“The CAS panel considered that the 350,000 Swiss francs fine on FAM was justified and proportionate.”
FAM and the seven naturalised Malaysian footballers were penalised by Fifa after the world football body said FAM had submitted falsified documents to confirm the players’ eligibility before Malaysia’s 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
In addition to slapping FAM with a fine, Fifa also fined each player 2,000 Swiss francs (about RM10,560).
The seven players are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.

MatchPoint Times

CAS partially upholds appeal by 7 heritage players

The seven will be banned for 12 months beginning today, but only for official matches.

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