Overview
- The AFC converted Malaysia’s 2-0 win over Nepal and 4-0 win over Vietnam into 3-0 defeats for fielding ineligible players, putting Vietnam out of reach and eliminating Malaysia with one match left on March 31.
- CAS upheld the finding of document fraud and a 12‑month suspension from official matches for the seven players, backdated to September, while allowing them to train and take part in other football activities.
- FIFA’s investigation concluded the naturalisations used falsified documents and that none of the players had Malaysian parentage or ancestry.
- Financial penalties stand, with CAS upholding FIFA’s CHF 350,000 fine on the Football Association of Malaysia and the AFC imposing an additional $50,000 fine payable within 30 days.
- The sanctioned players are Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Joao Brandao Figueiredo, identified as originally from Argentina (three), Spain (two), the Netherlands (one) and Brazil (one).