Fifa kicks out Malaysia’s appeal, urges criminal probes into fake ‘heritage players’ claim

Malaysia’s attempt to deceive by producing forged documents ‘strike at the very foundation of football’s integrity’, appeal committee says

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Joao Vitor Figueiredo (in yellow) scores a goal for Malaysia during the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:27pm, 18 Nov 2025

Fifa has lodged criminal complaints in five countries and opened its own formal investigation into the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), after dismissing its appeal over the use of forged documents by seven foreign-born footballers representing the Southeast Asian nation.

In a withering 63-page explanation of its decision, football’s governing body upheld all fines and bans imposed in September against FAM – and the seven players – describing the falsified records allowing the “heritage players” to play for Malaysia as an attack on the sport.

The fraudulent ancestry documents had direct competitive impact, Fifa said, with two of the ineligible players scoring in Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam on June 10, resulting in “undue sporting gain”.

The Appeal Committee said attempts by FAM to deceive the governing body “strike at the very foundation of football’s integrity” and could not be tolerated “under any circumstances”.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino attends the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. Photo: Reuters

Fifa said investigators had found that falsified birth certificates were submitted to claim the players had Malaysian grandparents born in Penang, Johor, Malacca or Sarawak.

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