Malaysia defends naturalisation process for banned football players as scandal widens

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia on Oct 9 defended a decision to naturalise seven members of its national football team in a rapidly widening scandal after

Fifa suspended the players

over the alleged use of doctored documentation.

The Fifa disciplinary committee said this week that it had found evidence indicating that Malaysian authorities may have relied on forged documents to naturalise mixed-heritage players Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.

The committee said Fifa was able to obtain original birth certificates that showed significant discrepancies compared with those submitted by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to show the players’ Malaysian lineage.

The fact that Fifa was able to obtain the original documents suggested the FAM and the players “did not exercise the necessary level of scrutiny or care”, the disciplinary committee said.

The FAM has said it will appeal against the committee’s decision.

Fifa’s findings have sparked an uproar, with fans and lawmakers calling for action against the FAM, as well as the National Registration Department and Home Ministry, which are the two agencies responsible for granting the players’ citizenship.

The Malaysia team did not let the scandal affect them as they beat Laos 3-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier in Vientiane on Oct 9. They are top of Group F after three wins from as many matches, three points ahead of second-placed Vietnam.

Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told Parliament on Oct 9 that birth certificates are not required for naturalisation under Malaysia’s Constitution, and that the players had met all conditions required to obtain citizenship.

He acknowledged that he had relied on his ministerial discretion to relax some conditions – in particular, a requirement for an applicant to have resided in Malaysia for a set period of time.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin did not address allegations that officials had failed to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted, saying eligibility issues were matters between Fifa and FAM.

The FAM, in response, said the depiction presented in Fifa’s decision was inaccurate and an official appeal is being prepared.

The association also stressed that the heritage players are legitimate Malaysian citizens.

Fifa had on Sept 26 fined the FAM 350,000 Swiss francs (S$567,000), while each of the seven players was fined 2,000 Swiss francs and banned from all football-related activities for 12 months.

In a Facebook post on Oct 7, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh urged the FAM to complete its appeal and called on Malaysians to continue backing the team.

“FAM cannot remain silent and must respond clearly to all the revelations made by Fifa. Local football supporters feel hurt, angry and disappointed,” she posted.

Complaints were lodged against Malaysia for allegedly using “doctored documentation” to select the seven players in the squad for the Asian Cup qualifier with Vietnam on June 10, which they won 4-0. Five of the seven started the match.

Fifa said presenting fraudulent documentation for eligibility purposes “constitutes, pure and simple, a form of cheating, which cannot in any way be condoned”.

“Such conduct erodes trust in the fairness of competitions and jeopardises the very essence of football as an activity founded on honesty and transparency,” Fifa said.
REUTERS