'Heritage Players' Scandal Comes Back To Bite Harimau Malaya! Top Malaysian FA Officials Step Down

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 15:22 IST

Acting president Yusoff Mahadi stated that the resignations aim to protect the association's reputation and interests while mitigating the risk of further adverse consequences.

Malaysia FA. (X/MFA)

The Malaysian football association saw the registration of the entire executive committee on Wednesday, marking the latest development in a controversy over forged documents used to field foreign-born players in Asian Cup qualifiers. This move follows FIFA’s investigation last year into the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) regarding the inclusion of “heritage players" in the national team – foreign-born athletes accused of falsely claiming Malaysian ancestry.

Acting president Yusoff Mahadi stated that the resignations aim to protect the association’s reputation and interests while mitigating the risk of further adverse consequences for Malaysian football. He described the resignations as voluntary and a “measured and principled step" in response to recent events that have drawn significant public attention and external scrutiny.

The resignations will allow FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to independently assess, review, and address governance, administrative, and procedural matters within FAM, Yusoff added.

In September, FIFA suspended seven foreign-born players for a year and fined FAM $400,000 for submitting falsified documents claiming Malaysian ancestry. FIFA accused the federation of submitting these documents to make the players eligible to represent Malaysia, ostensibly to strengthen the national team. The probe was launched after Malaysia’s 4-0 defeat by Vietnam in a June Asian Cup qualifier.

The investigation revealed that none of the players – Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Brandao Figueiredo – had parents or grandparents born in Malaysia. FAM appealed the sanctions, but a FIFA committee rejected the appeal and issued a scathing report criticizing the association for not taking any discernible disciplinary action. FAM has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, where the case is pending.

In December, FIFA further penalised Malaysia with three 3-0 defeats in friendlies and an additional $12,500 in fines. The association’s general-secretary, Noor Azman Rahman, will continue overseeing daily operations with the help of the Kuala Lumpur-based AFC.

AFC general secretary Windsor Paul John stated that the AFC would help assess FAM in several internal aspects and provide a report at an upcoming FAM congress. Meanwhile, the CAS granted the seven players a reprieve pending the outcome of the hearings, now set for February 25. Windsor noted that the reprieve would allow the players to play for their clubs, but it remains unclear whether they could return to their roles as national players.

News sports football 'Heritage Players' Scandal Comes Back To Bite Harimau Malaya! Top Malaysian FA Officials Step Down

Read More