FIFPRO: 12-MONTH BAN ON MALAYSIAN HERITAGE PLAYERS ‘GROSSLY DISPROPORTIONATE’

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The 12-month ban from all football-related activities imposed on the seven players involved in the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) mixed heritage eligibility case is “grossly disproportionate” given the circumstances, said the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO).

In a statement today, FIFPRO said it is clear that the players are victims, and the decision confirms they did not forge any documents to obtain eligibility, with FIFA explicitly acknowledging that the documents they submitted were authentic.

“When not fewer than seven players find themselves in the exact same situation, it is evident that any possible forged documents were not the result of individual actions.

“Players also have no means to individually obtain binding confirmation from FIFA regarding their eligibility, a procedure which is not even mandatory under the current rules.

“It is therefore especially troubling that they are being held responsible for submissions made by a national association to FIFA, and that an apparent obligation is put on them to verify documents they neither issue nor submit,” it added.

FIFPRO said the seven players had followed the full prescribed process, which included submitting their personal documents, appearing before Malaysian authorities, undergoing oath-taking procedures, receiving government-issued passports and awaiting the FAM’s eligibility clearance.

“All steps were handled by institutions outside their control, yet they now face suspension from their clubs and the serious consequences that follow, through no fault of their own.

“FIFPRO expresses its full support for the players and trusts that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will overturn this injustice,” it said.

On Nov 3, FIFA rejected appeals by FAM and the seven heritage players - Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.

The FIFA Appeal Committee upheld the penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Committee against FAM and the seven naturalised players for offences related to the falsification of documents under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC).

Consequently, FAM was ordered to pay a fine of CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million), while each player was fined CHF2,000 (about RM11,000). The seven players were also suspended for 12 months from football-related activities.

-- BERNAMA