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The entire executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have quit after fielding three Spanish players, two Argentinians, a Dutchman and a Brazilian in a 4-0 victory over Vietnam.
The execs resigned Wednesday after a scandal involving the naturalization of seven foreign-born players led to FIFA sanctions, a court appeal and intensified scrutiny of the country’s soccer governance.
All committee members, elected 11 months ago for the 2025-2029 term, stepped down with immediate effect in a unanimous and voluntary decision in order to protect the association’s credibility.
The mass resignation followed FIFA’s decision last September to fine the association about £326,000 and suspending the seven players for a year after determining that fake documents had been filed to support their naturalization.
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The players – Facundo Garcés, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal and Héctor Hevel- were also fined individually.
The seven, who originate from Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands and Spain, went on to play for Malaysia, including in a qualifying match for the 2027 Asian Cup that Malaysia won against Vietnam.
Malaysian officials had maintained that all seven players were eligible under FIFA rules because each had a grandparent born in Malaysia.
FIFA, however, said its investigators obtained original documents from the players’ countries of origin that contradicted those claims.
