Malaysia vows to fight Fifa over 'technical error'

Malaysian football officials on Sept 29 blamed a “technical error” in the document submission process for an Asian Cup qualifier, which prompted Fifa to suspend seven of the country’s national players.

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The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vowed to fight Fifa’s ruling on Sept 26 that sent shockwaves through the sport in the football-mad nation, saying so-called “heritage” or naturalised players were legitimate citizens.

Fifa slapped a yearlong ban on the group — including centre-back Facundo Garces, 26, the first naturalised Malaysian to play in Spain’s La Liga — accusing the FAM of using “doctored documentation to be able to field the players”.

Garces, with Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano, were also fined 2,000 Swiss francs (S$3,200) each.