Malaysia FA suspends secretary-general, orders probe amid naturalisation scandal

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has suspended its Secretary-General, Noor Azman Rahman, and set up an independent committee to investigate a scandal involving seven naturalised players accused of using falsified documents to prove Malaysian lineage.

What triggered the scandal

• FIFA’s disciplinary committee found that the seven naturalised heritage players—Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel—had documentation submitted that reportedly did not match original records, specifically their grandparents’ birth certificates.
• These players were fielded in a June 2025 Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam. Following receipt of a complaint, FIFA launched an investigation.

FAM’s response

• FAM has denied wrongdoing, insisting the players are legitimate Malaysian citizens. They say there was a “technical error” arising from a rushed registration process.
• An appeal has been lodged with FIFA to overturn the sanctions. A decision from the appeals committee is expected by October 30, 2025.

Consequences from FIFA’s decision

• FAM was fined CHF 350,000 (about RM 1.8 million) by FIFA.
• Each of the seven players received fines of CHF 2,000 and were suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities.

Political and public fallout

• There has been widespread outrage among fans, media, and lawmakers. Calls for accountability include demands for heads to roll within FAM and scrutiny of government bodies responsible for citizenship and documentation.
• Malaysia’s Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, defended the naturalisation process, saying it complied with constitutional law, and that he had used ministerial discretion to waive certain residency requirements.

The scandal poses serious challenges for Malaysian football: FIFA sanctions could affect the national team’s competitiveness, while the credibility of FAM and associated government agencies is under pressure. As it stands, much hinges on the findings of the independent committee and the outcome of FAM’s appeal to FIFA.