Malaysia to Appeal FIFA Ban After Full Report Revealed

malaysia - The Football Association of Malaysia plans to appeal FIFA's ban on seven players for using forged citizenship documents following the release of the full disciplinary report.

Malaysia to Lodge Immediate Appeal After Receiving Full FIFA Ban Report

The Football Association of Malaysia is set to appeal FIFA's ruling on the suspension of seven players for allegedly obtaining citizenship through forged documents. The players, including Gabriel Palmero and Facundo Garcés, were each banned for 12 months and fined 2,000 Swiss francs. The FAM received a 350,000 Swiss francs sanction as well.

Timeline of Events

In March, the FAM submitted inquiries to FIFA regarding the players' eligibility based on birth certificates. By June, FIFA had responded positively to some inquiries, leading to the players featuring in a match against Vietnam. However, a complaint was later filed in June, alleging that the naturalization process of these players was questionable. This resulted in disciplinary proceedings being opened in August, with FIFA ruling against the FAM and players in September for using forged documents.

Following FIFA's release of the full report in October, detailing the players' ineligibility due to false information about their grandparents' birthplaces, the FAM swiftly announced its decision to appeal the ban. The association has stated that all necessary supporting documents are ready for submission.

Appeal Process

The FAM's appeal will be based on challenging FIFA's findings and presenting counterarguments to support the players' eligibility. The appeal process is crucial for the association and the players involved as it seeks to overturn the bans and financial penalties imposed by FIFA.