Kuala lumpur: While many Malaysians were preparing to break fast yesterday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) released its decision on the case involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the registration of seven heritage players.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the controversy centered around the eligibility of seven players: Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Manchuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel. The timeline of events leading up to the CAS decision reveals a complex saga that began with a statement issued by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) last September. This statement sparked significant debate among local football fans.
The controversy began on January 19, 2025, when FAM submitted an inquiry to FIFA regarding Hector Hevel's eligibility, providing his grandfather's birth certificate as evidence. Similar inquiries followed for the other players, all based on ancestral connections to Malaysia. Initial responses from FIFA indicated that several players met the requirements to represent Malaysia in international matches.
However, after matches were played with these players, FIFA received a complaint questioning their eligibility. This led to disciplinary proceedings against FAM and the players, with accusations of document falsification. On September 26, 2025, FIFA concluded that FAM and the players breached Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, resulting in fines and a 12-month suspension from all football-related activities for the players.
Appeals by FAM and the players were rejected by FIFA's Appeal Committee, and further sanctions were imposed, including overturning match results. FAM then appealed to CAS, which partially upheld the players' appeal, modifying the suspension to apply only to official matches. The CAS decision was noted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for further consideration.
This controversy has highlighted the complexities of player eligibility in international football and the potential repercussions for national associations and players involved in such disputes.