Petaling jaya: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) does not want to rush into making any decision regarding the issue of seven Harimau Malaya squad players being sanctioned over document forgery. Its president, Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, stated that any further action will only be considered after an official decision is obtained from the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, at the Malaysia League level, MFL will issue a statement on the status of the players involved after AFC makes its announcement. Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan shared this information with reporters during the M-League organiser's breaking-of-fast event in Petaling Jaya. Previously, MFL announced that four of the seven players involved are not allowed to compete in the Malaysia League during the 12-month suspension from official matches imposed by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The four players affected by the suspension are Johor Darul Ta'zim's Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel, along with Kuching City FC's Gabriel Palmero. The AFC had earlier mentioned that the matter would be referred to its Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for further review, raising concerns about the implications for the national squad and domestic competitions.
Last Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially allowed the appeal by the seven players involved against the sanctions imposed by FIFA over falsified naturalisation and eligibility documents. The other three players involved in the case are Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces, and Rodrigo Holgado.
In an operative decision issued without detailed grounds, CAS ruled that the seven players remain suspended for 12 months, but the ban now applies only to official matches and not all football-related activities. CAS also upheld the fine of CHF350,000 (about RM1.8 million) imposed on the Football Association of Malaysia, describing the punishment as appropriate and proportionate.
The issue first came to light in September last year after FIFA found that forged documents were used to support the eligibility of seven foreign-born players who represented Malaysia in international matches.