What will happen to Malaysian football after CAS’s rejection of naturalization appeal?

After months of legal disputes, the fate of Malaysian football is all but sealed. The preliminary CAS ruling, announced on March 5, upheld FIFA’s initial penalties regarding the falsification of naturalization documents for seven national team players.

While the sanctions for the players were slightly altered, the long-term consequences for the country’s football system could be devastating as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and domestic authorities prepare to take further action.

According to the official CAS statement, the seven involved players, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garcés, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Arrocha and Hector Hevel, remain suspended for 12 months for using invalid documents to prove their eligibility to represent Malaysia.

However, CAS modified the punishment. Instead of a ban on all football-related activities, the players are now only banned from participating in official matches, allowing them to resume training and club activities.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) must still pay a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (US$450,000). The court concluded that the falsification of naturalization documents was real and that the players were involved and responsible for the violations, justifying FIFA’s strict sanctions.

While the CAS decision resolves the legal dispute between Malaysia and FIFA, the national team’s future rests in the hands of the AFC, which immediately referred the case to its Disciplinary and Ethics Committee for investigation following the ruling.

Malaysia’s matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers fall directly under AFC’s jurisdiction.

The most likely scenario involves the AFC annulling the results of any matches featuring the ineligible players.

These include crucial victories against Nepal (2-0) and Vietnam (4-0). If these results are overturned into 0-3 forfeit losses, the stance of Group F will be shifted.

Malaysia, currently leading the group with 15 points, would be stripped of six points. This deduction would drop them behind Vietnam, resulting in automatic elimination regardless of the outcome of their final match on March 31. Vietnam and Nepal would both get back three points. This change would guarantee Vietnam top group spot and qualification to the 2027 Asian Cup.

According to Stadium Astrothe AFC’s disciplinary options extend beyond overturning match results. Potential sanctions include deducting additional points in the qualifying campaign, completely disqualifying Malaysia from the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, or imposing additional fines on FAM.

The AFC could also ban involved federation officials from football management, similar to the suspension of former FAM secretary general Noor Azman Rahman or the five-year ban handed to former Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi in 2016 for document falsification.

The fallout also threatens domestic football. Four of the seven players currently represent Malaysian clubs, notably Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT). Consequently, domestic league organizers may enforce point deductions or adjust club results in case of violation.

The AFC could also annul JDT’s results in the ASEAN Club Championship, where they recently finished second in their group behind Vietnamese club Nam Dinh FC. In addition, Malaysian clubs can be reviewed for their registration files of foreign players.

Naturalized Hector Hevel (L) in Malaysia’s 4-0 victory against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in Bukit Jalil, Malaysia, June 10, 2026. Photo by Read/Hai Tu

Beyond football, the CAS ruling of forged documents provides the Royal Malaysian Police with sufficient grounds to launch a criminal investigation into FAM personnel, especially the ones who are responsible for preparing the falsified naturalization documents.

The public and legal pressure have already led to the resignation of the entire FAM executive board.

Shattered reputation

Ultimately, the image of Malaysian football will be damaged the most. The case has become one of the biggest scandals in the country’s football history, sparking heated debates about the naturalization policy.

For years, the nation aggressively pursued a strategy of naturalizing foreign-born players, such as Bergson da Silva, Manuel Hidalgo, Nacho Mendez, and Giancarlo Gallifuoco, who met the legitimate five-year residency requirement.

However, this scandal has cast a dark shadow over that strategy, severely damaging the country’s reputation across the region. Even if the harshest penalties are avoided, rebuilding trust with fans and international governing bodies will take years.

Currently, the CAS decision is preliminary, with the fully reasoned legal verdict to follow in due course. Meanwhile, the AFC’s investigation remains ongoing before issuing disciplinary actions.