Malaysia FA executive committee resigns en bloc after nationality fraud scandal | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Malaysia’s football federation executive committee has resigned en bloc after a nationality fraud scandal that led to FIFA sanctions.

Interim president Yusoff Mahadi said the move was intended to protect the body’s reputation and institutional interests, and to limit further harm to Malaysian football.

He added the step would allow FIFA and the AFC to assess and, if necessary, resolve governance, administrative and procedural matters at the federation independently.

On 17 December, FIFA fined Malaysia 452,000 dollars, 377,000 euros, and imposed three defeats by forfeit covering the friendlies won against Palestine and Singapore and the draw with Cape Verde. Two months earlier it had suspended seven foreign-born players for using false documents to claim Malay origin to represent the national team.

FIFA opened its investigation after a complaint following Malaysia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam in June 2025 in Asian Cup qualifying, when two of the seven scored. The probe found Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Joao Brandao Figueiredo had no parent or grandparent born in Malaysia, a requirement for selection.

Source: L'Équipe