The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) tonight cited a “technical error” in the documents submitted to field the players in an Asian Cup qualifier, two days after it and seven mixed-heritage players were sanctioned by FIFA.
In a statement tonight, the country’s football governing body said the error had been made by one of its personnel.
“FAM takes this matter seriously.
“However, we would like to emphasise that the mixed-heritage players involved are indeed Malaysian.”
Two days ago FIFA’s disciplinary committee fined FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.9 million), while each of the seven players have been fined 2,000 Swiss francs (RM11,000) in addition to the 12-month suspension.
FIFA said FAM and the seven players were sanctioned for breaching Article 22 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, which relates to forgery and falsification.
The players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomás Garcés, Rodrigo Julián Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, João Vitor Brandão Figueiredo, Jon Irazábal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.
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