FIFA upholds sanctions against FAM and seven naturalised players [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian football has been dealt a crushing blow after FIFA upheld sanctions against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven foreign players over a damaging document falsification scandal.

In a statement on Monday, world football’s governing body confirmed that its appeal committee had dismissed all appeals filed by FAM and the players – Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel – who were found guilty of breaching Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, relating to forgery and falsification.

“The FIFA appeal committee has rendered its decision… after analysing all submissions and conducting a hearing, the committee decided to dismiss the appeals and confirm the sanctions in full,” FIFA said.

The punishment is severe.

FAM has been fined CHF350,000 (about RM1.9 million), while each player must pay CHF2,000 (around RM10,600) and serve a 12-month ban from all football-related activities.

FIFA said both FAM and the players have been officially notified of the decision and have 10 days to request a full written judgment.

Once that is received, they have 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The ruling, unless overturned by CAS, leaves Malaysian football facing a credibility crisis.

With FIFA’s verdict now final, the message could not be clearer – forgery has no place in world football, and Malaysia’s governing body will now have to rebuild its image from the rubble.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

Source link