FAM apologises to Malaysian fans over seven players’ document controversy

KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has apologised to Malaysian football fans over the document falsification controversy involving seven heritage players that rocked the national team last year. Newly elected FAM president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said the apology was made on behalf of the association, including its newly appointed executive committee (Exco), which has taken over the running of the national football governing body. He said the new leadership took the matter seriously and was committed to ensuring that a similar controversy would not recur during its 2025-2029 term. “I, on behalf of all FAM executive committee members currently serving, apologise to all Malaysian football fans over the issue involving the falsification of documents for seven heritage players that occurred last year,” he told reporters at a press conference today. Ab Ghani was speaking after chairing the sixth FAM executive committee meeting for the 2025-2029 term at Wisma FAM today. He said FAM would tighten its procedures, particularly those involving documentation and the eligibility of players called up to represent Harimau Malaya. He said greater scrutiny would be applied to ensure all documents were properly verified and every process complied with the relevant regulations and procedures. “Therefore, I give my commitment that throughout my tenure leading FAM, matters or issues of this nature will not be allowed to happen again,” he said. The controversy erupted in September last year when FIFA found evidence of alterations or falsification in documents relating to the eligibility of seven heritage players who represented Malaysia. FIFA subsequently imposed a fine of RM1.7 million on FAM, while each of the seven players was fined RM9,800 and handed a 12-month suspension. The seven players involved were Facundo Garcés, Gabriel Palmero, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, João Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Héctor Hevel. The sanctions triggered widespread scrutiny of FAM’s governance and player eligibility procedures, with the association subsequently appealing FIFA’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Ab Ghani’s apology comes after he took over as FAM president earlier this month, succeeding Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin following the association’s second extraordinary congress. Since taking office, Ab Ghani has pledged to restore confidence in FAM while strengthening its governance and internal processes in the wake of the controversy. – September 30, 2026 The post FAM apologises to Malaysian fans over seven players’ document controversy appeared first on Scoop .