KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Chinese Football Association (MCFA), one of the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) longest-standing affiliates, has called for immediate action to identify those behind the falsification of birth certificates linked to seven heritage footballers.
The association, which has maintained close ties with FAM since 1926, described the scandal as a grave criminal offence that could damage the credibility of Malaysian football domestically and internationally.
Datuk Jeffery Low Han Chau, MCFA president, said the incident strikes at the core of the sport’s integrity and insisted that the responsible parties be swiftly held to account.
“So far, nobody knows who actually falsified the birth certificates for these seven players. Until today, the individuals responsible remain unidentified,” he said.
“I am not sure whether the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has picked up any leads, but they must track down those responsible for this fraud,” Jeffery added.
He underlined the urgency of the situation.
“This is a serious issue with international ramifications. Countries affected could take legal action because someone has falsified the birth documents of their citizens. FIFA and the AFC must act swiftly to identify and punish those responsible,” he said.
The controversy follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which confirmed that the players had committed offences by falsifying eligibility documents. CAS imposed a 12-month suspension from official matches, describing it as a reasonable and proportionate sanction given the players’ complicity.
The seven players implicated are Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, and Hector Hevel.
CAS highlighted that the punishment was justified due to the players’ active participation in the fraudulent scheme and the broader implications for the integrity of football. - March 15, 2026
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